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Big Ten Weekend Preview: Week 10

The top game in the Big Ten Conference this weekend.

No. 21 Wisconsin @ No. 1 Ohio State

Ohio State goes for what would be a Big Ten record 20th-straight conference win this Saturday in Columbus when they face the Wisconsin Badgers, who have outscored opponents 77-6 in the last two games. The Buckeyes continued their run at the chance to play for a Big Ten title with a convincing 37-17 victory in Happy Valley last weekend, but will have three more tough contests to finish up the season. The health of Badgers' running back P.J. Hill will undoubtedly prove to be the biggest factor in determining if Wisconsin can play with the Buckeyes or even make a bid at the upset. The Buckeyes haven't lost a conference game since October 8, 2005, when they lost 17-10 to Penn State at Beaver Stadium, so an upset for Wisconsin would reach further than just knocking off the top-ranked team in the nation. Former Wisconsin head coach managed to win three in-a-row in Columbus, but Bret Bielema will be facing the Buckeyes for the first time ever in just his second season at the helm.

When Wisconsin has the ball...

It sounds more and more like P.J. Hill will play Saturday, but if Wisconsin falls behind early, the running game will likely become nonexistent eliminating the one threat that Wisconsin offers on offense, the ability to control the football as well as the clock. Ohio State's run defense was exposed at times last week, particulary in the first half as Penn State kept themselves in the game with a continuous mix of the pass and run. If Wisconsin cannot execute early, however, it will be difficult for them to stick around against a Buckeye defense that seems to get stronger as the game goes along. The other part of the key to the Badgers' success on offense will fall on the shoulders of quarterback Tyler Donovan. Having lost his best wide receiving target in Luke Swan a few weeks ago for the rest of the year, Kyle Jefferson and tight end Travis Beckum will have to play outstanding if the Badgers are going to move the ball through the air whatsoever. Jefferson has looked great at times this season, but his inconsistency as a young wide receiver is something that the Badgers are looking for him to improve upon. Despite recording three consecutive games of 65 yards or more receiving and two touchdowns in those three contests, Jefferson has failed to eclipse the 50-yard mark each of the last two weeks, even though Wisconsin managed to win handly in each. Beckum has been the go-to guy all year having caught 53 passes for 625 yards and three touchdowns. His size makes him a difficult matchup for corners and safeties, yet his speed makes him just as tough to defend for linebackers. At 6'4, 224 pounds, and with the speed of a wideout, Beckum has made himself a candidate once again for the John Mackey Award which goes to the nation's best tight end at season's end.

When Ohio State has the ball...

Chris Wells has put together two great weeks in-a-row with his 221 yards rushing two weeks ago versus Michigan State followed by his 25-carry 133-yard performance last week in Happy Valley. Despite what Todd Boeckman has been able to do at the quarterback position and Brian Robiskie at the wide receiver slot, the key along the way has been the steady play from Wells. Since the first week of the season, Wells has failed to reach 85 yards just once, and that one game saw him carry the ball only four times for 17 yards in a blowout win over Kent State. In what looked to be a strength of the Badgers heading into the season, the defense has been somewhat disappointing in the fact that they have given up 21 points or more five times through the first nine games this season, an occurence that happened just three times all of last season. Statistically, the Badgers allow 141 yards per game on the ground, a category which has them ranked eigth in the Big Ten. If Wisconsin allows Chris Wells and Maurice Wells as well as Brandon Saine run it early and run it often, it will be an ugly day for the Wisconsin defense and one that will have them tired before even reaching the final quarter of play. The play of Boeckman has been rather surprising this season as he has done a magnificient job at doing just enough, and often more than needed, to keep the Buckeyes in avoiding an upset. He has completed better than 66 percent of his passes, while throwing for 21 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. There's no doubt that the receiving position has risen to the challenge as well, however, as Brian Robiskie has developed into one of the biggest downfield threats in not just the Big Ten, but around the country, while Brian Hartline has been a great complimentary possession receiver who has a knack for coming up with a big play on third down. Ray Small has also proved himself to be a downfield threat and a receiver that can make teams miss in the open field when possessing the football. The running game will remain the key as the Buckeyes will look to once again control the clock and wear down the Badgers run defense in making it an easier task in closing it out in the final quarter.

Prediction

Chris Wells has another solid day and inches toward the 100-yard mark, while P.J. Hill struggles to get into any kind of groove against an Ohio State rush defense that has been good when needed to be the most. One step closer to a chance to play for the Big Ten title, and one week closer to the increasingly intriguing matchup in Ann Arbor.

Wisconsin- 13 Ohio State- 31