Ohio State—Wisconsin: HQ Highlights of OSU's Lowlight Performance

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Ohio State—Wisconsin: Gameday Preview, History Lesson, and Prediction

The last time Ohio State traveled to Madison, Wisconsin to face the Badgers, then-freshmen Terrelle Pryor won the game with his legs in the final minute.

This time around, Wisconsin will likely try to force Pryor and the Buckeyes to have to rely on Pryor's arm.

That may prove to be a tough road-to-hoe for the 18th-ranked Badgers, as the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes are prolific in both running and throwing the ball.

The same may also hold true for a banged-up Buckeye defense when it comes to stopping Wisconsin's passing game led by QB Scott Tolzien, and their very talented running back duo of John Clay and James White.

Camp Randall is always a tough environment to play in, so the Buckeyes will want to take the crowd out of the game early.

The best way to do that is by controlling the ball, taking the early lead, shutting down the running game and forcing the Badgers to throw, and by forcing Wisconsin into turnovers.

That formula worked to the tune of 31-13 in favor of the Buckeyes last season, and it should work again Saturday night.


Wisconsin—By the Numbers


Scott Tolzien, QB

92/132 passing, 1,201 yards, 69.7% completion percentage, 7 TDs/2INTs, 160.6 QB Rating


John Clay, RB

115 carries, 692 yards, 6.0 yards per carry, 9 TDs


James White, RB

63 carries, 458 yards, 7.7 yards per carry, 8 TDs


Montee Ball, RB

46 carries, 201 yards, 4.4 yards per carry, 3 TDs


Lance Kendricks, TE

25 receptions, 391 yards, 3 TDs


Jared Abbrederis, WR

15 receptions, 172 yards, 1 TD


David Gilreath, WR

8 receptions, 148 yards, 0 TDs


Nick Toon, WR

11 receptions, 134 yards, 0 TDs


Isaac Anderson, WR

12 receptions, 117 yards, 0 TDs


Jacob Pederson, TE

5 receptions, 69 yards, 2 TDs


Philip Welch, K

27/27 PATs, 7/9 FGs


Nationally, Wisconsin is 67th in passing (209 yards per game), 11th in rushing (241 yards per game), 16th in scoring (37 points per game), and 32nd in points allowed (19 points per game).


Ohio State—By the Numbers

Terrelle Pryor, QB

104/153 passing, 1,349 yards, 68% completion percentage, 15 TDs/3INTs, 354 yards rushing, 6.2 yards per carry, 3 rushing TDs, 1 receiving TD, 170.47 QB Rating


Dan Herron, RB

77 carries, 355 yards, 4.6 yards per carry, 7 TDs, 8 receptions, 115 receiving yards


Jaamal Berry, RB

20 carries, 219 yards, 11.0 yards per carry, 1 TD


Brandon Saine, RB

44 carries, 183 yards, 4.2 yards per carry, 2 TDs, 13 receptions, 159 receiving yards, 4 TDs


Jordan Hall, RB

14 carries, 75 yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 0 TDs, 5 receptions, 61 yards, 1 receiving TD, 1 passing TD


Dane Sanzenbacher, WR

27 receptions, 411 yards, 7 TDs


DeVier Posey, WR

26 receptions, 364 yards, 3 TDs


Jake Stoneburner, TE

9 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD


Devin Barclay, K

32/32 PATs, 11/12 FGs


Nationally, Ohio State is 37th in passing (249 yards per game), 20th in rushing (217 yards per game), 6th in scoring (43 points per game), and 7th in points allowed (13.5 points per game).


Ohio State—Wisconsin History Lesson

• Ohio State leads the all-time head-to-head series 53-17-5.

• Ohio State is 6-3-1 vs. Wisconsin in the last 10 meetings in Madison.

• Ohio State's last road loss at Wisconsin was in 2003.

• Ohio State is 19-1 in their last 20 Big 10 road games.

• Ohio State is 18-8 (including bowl games) vs. top 25 teams since 2005.

• Ohio State boasts an all-time record of 362-126-28 in October games.

• Ohio State's defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in their last 29 games.

• Since the beginning of the 2005 season, the Buckeyes have allowed only seven 100-yard rushers during a span of 70 games, the fewest among FBS teams.

• Terrelle Pryor is now 25-3 as Ohio State's starting quarterback.

• Coach Jim Tressel (100-21) became the 3rd fastest coach to 100 wins in Big Ten history with last weeks win over Indiana.

• Tressel is 4-3 overall vs. Wisconsin, with a 2-1 mark on the road in Madison.

• Wisconsin is the only team to have beaten Ohio State three times in the last decade.

• Wisconsin has lost three straight games to Ohio State and they are 1-4 in the last five meetings at home.

• Since 2005, Wisconsin is 6-11 (including bowl games) vs. top 25 teams.

• Since 2005, Wisconsin is 1-5 (including bowl games) vs. top 10 teams.

• Wisconsin coach Brett Bielema is 0-3 against Ohio State, losing by an average of score of 30-16.

• Wisconsin last won the Big 10 conference title in 1999.

• Wisconsin is 21-4 in Big 10 games at Camp Randall since 2004.


Summary

Both teams will want to run the ball, and while the edge at running back goes to the Badgers, the edge at run defense goes to Ohio State, hands-down. A 30th-straight game without allowing a 100-yard-rusher could be on tap for the Buckeyes.

Whichever team protects the football should win this game.

This too bodes well for Ohio State, which leads all BCS AQ-schools with a turnover margin of plus 10 (17 take-aways, seven turnovers).

Wisconsin has a turnover margin of plus two (six take-aways, four turnovers).

The Badgers lost, 34-24, to a very good Michigan State team two weeks ago. Most knowledgeable fans would agree that Ohio State is the better overall team when comparing them to the Spartans.

Combine that with the trends and stats that are in Ohio State's favor and it seems as though if the Buckeyes and Badgers both play up to their capabilities on both sides of the ball, Ohio State should still easily cover the three-and-a-half point spread, and then some.


Final Score Prediction

Ohio State 38
Wisconsin 24


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Big Ten Football: Power Ranking The Conference Running Backs Going Into Week 4

If QBs made the rankings, there is no doubt that UM's Denard Robinson and OSU's Terrelle Pryor would be in the top 10.

But since these are the best RBs in the Big Ten, they aren't eligible.

It is still worth mentioning that Robinson leads the conference with 559 rushing yards and Pryor is the leading rusher for the Buckeyes with 165.



No. 10 - Dan "Boom" Herron - Ohio State

Boom was the hot hand for the Buckeyes vs. the Miami Hurricanes in week 2, but overall, he and the rest of the Buckeye backs need to run the ball more effectively.

Quarterback Terrelle Pryor is always going to scramble and make plays when a play breaks down or he can't find an open receiver, but he should not be leading this team in rushing.

Herron earns the No. 10 ranking this week, but redshirt freshman Jaamal Berry has Buckeye fans clamoring to see more of him, which could mean less P.T. for Herron over the coming weeks.

Stay tuned.


No. 9 - Darius Willis - Indiana

The Hoosiers run a spread offense and they have an excellent QB in Ben Chappell, so they don't run the ball that much.

Despite that fact, Willis is a solid ball carrier that makes the most of the touches he does get.

Through week 3, he has scored two touchdowns and rushed 27 times for 132 yards.

The next two weeks, IU plays Akron and then Michigan.

Akron allowed almost 300 yards on the ground to Kentucky last week, and UMass gained over 200 yards rushing against Michigan.

Coach Bill Lynch should take advantage of these weak run defenses and let Willis carry the rock a lot in both games.

If he does, it's almost a guarantee that Willis will get near the century mark and score once or twice in both games.


No. 8 - Michael Shaw - Michigan

If Shoelace, aka Denard Robinson, is going to survive the season, especially once Big Ten play begins, he has to be able to rely on Shaw to step up more in the running game.

Last week Shaw finally showed up against UMass, but he has to be able to do the same against better competition for Robinson's sake and for the entire team's sake.

Through three games, Shaw has scored four touchdowns and accumulated 186 rushing yards on 32 carries for an average of 5.8 yards per carry.

Most of his numbers came in the UMass game. If he can't replicate that performance in-conference, Robinson and UM may be in big trouble, and soon.



No. 7 - Brandon Saine - Ohio State

Saine is definitely not your typical No. 1 back that Ohio State is used to having, i.e. a Beanie Wells / Eddie George type power back.

But what Saine is is a hybrid tailback / h-back / slot receiver and as that, he's one of the best in the league.

He can break a big run from time to time, be doesn't always seem to have the best vision moving down field.

He has 33 carries for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He has also caught five passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns.

What separates Saine from his teammate Herron is that Saine is faster and has great hands making him a near perfect threat in the slot or out of the backfield, while Herron seems to have better field vision when running the ball.

If there were such a place as Buckeye football Utopia, Saine would play almost exclusively at WR and Herron would be the No. 1 back, but superstar-in-the-making Jaamal Berry would share carries with Boom.


No. 6 - Duane Bennett - Minnesota

Running back Duane Bennett might just be the only bright spot in an otherwise dark and dismal season so far for the (1-2) Golden Gophers.

With a new stadium that just opened last season came higher expectations for this program, but so far the results have fallen far short of those.

Coach Tim Brewster is on a very hot seat and he might not make it through the season.

Bennett , however, is doing what he can to help the team win and save his coach from the axe.

He is averaging nearly 100 yards per game with 297 yards on 55 carries through the first three games. He has scored twice and is averaging 5.4 yards per rush.

Minnesota faces Northern Illinois on Saturday so expect another big day for Bennett.

He's on pace for close to 1,200 yards but it's unclear who might be the coach when and if he reaches that milestone late in the season.


No. 5 - Adam Robinson - Iowa

Last season, Adam Robinson became the Hawkeye's starter when Jewell Hampton was injured during the fall. It's deja vu all over again, kind of.

Robinson was already entrenched as the starter this season even though Hampton returned to the team healthy. News recently broke that Hampton now has a torn acl and will miss the remainder of this season.

Hampton was averaging close to 10 carries per game so it makes sense that Robinson's workload will increase going forward.

As of now, Robinson has 48 carries for 270 yards for an average of 5.6 yards per carry and he has scored four touchdowns.

This week Iowa hosts Ball State. Robinson is a safe bet to gain 100-plus yards and he should also find the endzone at least once or twice.


No. 4 - Mikel Leshoure - Illinois

Leshoure has been quite the surprise for the Illini so far this season.

Through his first three games, Leshoure has carried the ball 58 times for 398 yards for a 6.9 yards per carry average. He has gained more than 100 yards in every game so far and has scored three touchdowns.

If not for the fact that QB Nathan Scheelhaase has rushed 40 times for over 200 yards, Leshoure could possibly be leading the conference in rushing.

If coach Ron Zook is smart and hopes to have any chance at saving his job, he better hitch his wagon to Leshoure and ride him every week until the cows come home.








No. 3 - Le'Veon Bell - Michigan State

In the wake of recent events, it goes without mentioning that every college football fan should be hoping for a full and speedy recovery for MSU coach Mark Dantonio who suffered a heart attack after the Spartans pulled off that overtime thriller against Notre Dame. Get well soon Coach D!

One of the main reasons the Spartans are 3-0 is the play of freshman RB Le'Veon Bell.

Last week he gained over 100 yards with a touchdown against the Irish and on the year, he has 37 carries, 304 rushing yards, a hefty average of 8.2 yards per carry, and four touchdowns.

This week, MSU welcomes in Northern Colorado. Another 100-plus yards and a couple of scores can safely be expected.





No. 2 - John Clay - Wisconsin

Deciding on the top two places and whom to rank one and two was a tough decision. It was very close because the two players selected really are practically interchangeable.

In the end, John Clay, the reigning Big Ten POY, was ever-so-slightly edged out by the back that earned that top slot. It really was a coin flip, but the numbers never lie and that is why Clay lands at No. 2.

He's done as expected on the young season rushing for 383 yards on 62 carries for an average of 6.2 per, and has scored five touchdowns.

Despite his play, the Badgers have surprisingly struggled to their 3-0 record with unimpressive wins against UNLV and San Jose State, and a 1-point escape due a missed extra point try by Arizona State that would have forced overtime.

This week Austin Peay comes calling so expect a big game from Clay and everyone else from Wisconsin.

Of course, James Madison did beat a sluggish Virginia Tech two weeks ago, so we'll have to see which Badger team shows up.


No. 1 - Edwin Baker - Michigan State

Who?—you may be asking...

Well, if you haven't been paying attention to the stats, you might be surprised to see Baker at No. 1.

He's not a household name, but he should be, and probably will be soon if he continues to produce as he has been.

So far, Baker has carried the ball 46 times for 390 yards for a whopping 8.5 yards per carry, and he has scored four touchdowns.

When you look at the talent on this Michigan State team, it seems clear that the Spartans are underrated.

Kirk Cousins is one of the top QBs in the conference.

Keyshawn Martin, B.J Cunninghamm, and Mark Dell are probably the best trio of receivers on one team in the conference.

And then besides Baker, his backfield running mate, Le'Veon Bell made this list at No, 3, and in case you missed it, they are both averaging over eight yards per carry!

In the past, the higher the expectations, the more the Spartans seem to underachieve.

This could be the year they finally break through. They have the talent and a very good coach once he returns.

After hosting Northern Colorado this week, the following two weeks will validate or potentially expose MSU as they host No. 11 Wisconsin, then travel to Ann Arbor to play their in-state arch-rivals, No. 21 Michigan.

Go Sparty, go!


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