Football Betting Advice – Ohio State Puts # 1 Ranking On Line

Those who are looking for our football betting advice this weekend are well aware that in the wake of Alabama’s loss last weekend, the Ohio State Buckeyes are now #1 in the country in both polls, and they obviously have that on the line this Saturday when they visit Madison to play the Wisconsin Badgers.

This Big 10 showdown is slated to begin at 7 PM ET at Camp Randall Stadium (artificial turf). In the college football lines for this game, the Buckeyes are a four-point favorite, with a posted total of 49 points. We will render our football betting advice based on those numbers.

[Off topic: by the way, do you want to get a 55% bonus on your first deposit here at BetOnline? If so JOIN NOW.]

Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0 SU, 5-1 ATS) at Wisconsin Badgers (5-1 SU, 0-5 ATS)

Live at Camp Randall Stadium
Madison, WI
Saturday, October 16 — 7 PM ET
TV: ESPN

College Football Lines:

Ohio State -4
Wisconsin +4
Total 49

Here are some of the trends as they impact the college football lines on this game:

• Ohio State has won its last twelve games SU
• Ohio State has covered 18 of its last 22 games
• Ohio State has played four of its last six games OVER the total
• Ohio State has won six of its last seven road games SU
• Ohio State has played five of its last six road games UNDER the total
• Wisconsin has won seven of its last eight games SU
• Wisconsin has its last six home games SU

Key stats for Ohio State — The Buckeyes are fourth in the nation in rushing defense, holding opponents to less than 79 yards a game, and 2.7 yards a carry.

There is no question that these kinds of numbers mean Wisconsin’s running game will be in for a challenge, and that in turn has to impact whatever football betting advice we give you.

Ohio State is also sixth in scoring, third in pass efficiency defense, third in total defense and sixth in scoring defense.

Terrelle Pryor is a candidate for the Heisman Trophy; although he doesn’t really have an NFL-caliber arm, he is just fine for the college game, with a 68% completion rate and 15 touchdown passes, with just three interceptions.

Key stats for Wisconsin — The Badgers are eleventh in the nation in rushing yards. They’re averaging 241 yards a game and 5.6 yards a carry, and it is clear that they are going to rely heavily on tailback John Clay, who is trying to build up his all-conference credentials with 692 yards and nine touchdowns.

Scott Tolzien ranks 167th in passing efficiency, and he’s completed almost 70% of his passes with just two interceptions. Wisconsin is 16th in the country in scoring, at over 37 points per game. They are also 23rd in total defense, and have given up only one rushing touchdown on the season.

Here are some of the head-to-head trends that may influence our football betting prediction on this game:

• Ohio State has won four of the last six meetings SU
• Five of the last seven meetings have gone UNDER the total

…And by the way, bet parlays of 16 through 20 teams for huge payouts at BetOnline Sportsbook. That’s our best football betting advice for you!

Terrelle Pryor is being bothered by a thigh injury, and was really held back last week against Indiana, with an eye toward this game, I’m sure.

But there has to be at least a little question as to how much damage Pryor can really do with his legs, because he might be able to get away with beating opponents the level of Indiana with his arm, but that is less likely to work against Wisconsin.

Scott Tolzien has great stats, but he was 11 of 25 in the team’s biggest test against Michigan State.

This may bring up some concerns about his ability to get it done against the higher-caliber teams, and that concern also may exist with regard to Clay, who has rushed for 128 combined yards in two meetings with OSU.

In the past I have not had the most faith in the world in what Ohio State could do, and they have undergone a severe test only against Miami. But Wisconsin had life-and-death against Arizona State in their own building and lost by double digits when they had to go to East Lansing.

I’m not sure my football betting advice can point you toward Wisconsin here. Rather, we’ll go with Ohio State, the four-point favorite in the college football lines.

JAY’S PLAY: OHIO STATE -4 **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

Come and challenge the college football lines at BetOnline Sportsbook today!