Eric Boggs
Ohio State’s 34-16 victory over No. 17 Illinois on Saturday not only secured the Illibuck trophy for the Buckeyes but also reaffirmed their standing as the nation’s top team. The win kept Ohio State perfect at 6-0 and helped solidify their hold on the No. 1 ranking in both the AP and Coaches Polls heading into Week 8. After another convincing performance on the road, the Buckeyes are once again commanding respect from oddsmakers, opening as massive 28.5-point favorites over Wisconsin next weekend.
My Bookie released the line Sunday, shortly after Ohio State’s win and Wisconsin’s embarrassing 37-0 home loss to Iowa. The Badgers, now 2-4 under former Buckeye player and assistant coach Luke Fickell, have struggled to find consistency this season, leaving fans frustrated as their team continues to slide. The 28.5-point spread marks the largest gap between these programs since at least 1999, easily surpassing the 19-point margin Ohio State carried into their 2022 matchup — a game the Buckeyes went on to win 52-21.
Ohio State’s dominance this year has made them one of the most reliable teams in the country against the spread. The Buckeyes are 5-1 ATS this season, with their only miss coming by half a point against Ohio. Wisconsin, meanwhile, sits at 2-4 against the spread, having covered only twice this year. Historically, Ohio State holds an 11-9 record ATS against the Badgers since 1999 but has struggled slightly in Madison, going 3-5 at Camp Randall Stadium.
The total for the matchup opened at 41.5 points, which would be the lowest over/under for any Ohio State game this season. It also stands as the second-lowest projection for a Buckeyes-Badgers game since 1999, with only the 2004 meeting — which closed at 36.5 points — coming in lower. Recent trends suggest a defensive battle could be in store, as both teams have hit the under in four of their six games this season. Wisconsin’s stagnant offense and Ohio State’s elite defense could keep the score under control again this week.
Beyond the betting markets, Ohio State continues to sit atop the college football landscape. The Buckeyes once again claimed the No. 1 spot in both the AP and Coaches Polls, holding off undefeated challengers such as Miami and Indiana. The Hoosiers moved up to No. 3 after a statement win at Oregon, while the Ducks slid to No. 8 in the AP Poll. Illinois, despite its loss to the Buckeyes, remained ranked at No. 25 in the Coaches Poll but fell out of the AP Top 25.
Elsewhere around the country, poll movement reflected a chaotic weekend. USC surged 12 spots to No. 21 after knocking Michigan out of both polls, while Oklahoma suffered the largest drop, falling eight spots following a 23-6 defeat to Texas in the Red River Rivalry. South Florida enjoyed a five-spot climb after a 63-point outburst against North Texas.
For Ohio State, though, the mission remains steady. The Buckeyes have won 10 straight games dating back to last season, outscoring opponents by an average of nearly 30 points per contest. Their combination of defensive dominance, offensive balance, and composure on the road has kept them in complete control of their championship trajectory.
Ohio State now turns its attention to Madison, where it will face Wisconsin in a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS. With the Buckeyes playing their second straight road game and the Badgers reeling from a shutout loss, the matchup offers another opportunity for Ryan Day’s team to prove why it sits firmly atop the college football world.
