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Oct 28, 2023

Uncut Podcast: Day, Knowles, McCord preview Wisconsin primetime matchup
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Screenshot_2023_10_28_at_12.26.28_PM.0.png

The head coach, defensive coordinator, and starting quarterback discuss Luke Fickell’s Badgers.

Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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We know that the noon window of games today is less than thrilling, so we figured you could use a little extra Buckeye content to pass the time before the good games start at 3:30 p.m. ET and then our game kicks off at 7:30. So, you are getting a double dose of press conference audio from this week.

On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from the Tuesday, Oct. 24 press conference and the Wednesday, Oct. 25 post-practice media availability. Since we are bringing you audio from two days, you will hear from head coach Ryan Day not once, but twice, along with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and starting quarterback Kyle McCord.

Watch the full press conference on the Ohio State Athletic Department’s Facebook: Login to view embedded media

Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Music by: www.bensound.com

Oct 28, 2023

Tailgate Podcast: Everything you need to know to watch the Ohio State vs. Wisconsin game
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Ohio State University vs Penn State University

Set Number: X163079 TK1

The only Ohio State game day podcast you need.

Before every Ohio State football game, Matt Tamanini will get you ready with all of the information that you need for that day’s game on the “LGHL Tailgate” podcast.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (-14.5) vs. Wisconsin | over/under 46

Game Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
TV: NBC
Radio: 97.1 FM/1460 AM

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET inside Camp Randall Stadium, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes — coached by Ryan Day — will take on the Wisconsin Badgers under the direction of beloved former Ohio State player and coach Luke Fickell.

Coming into the matchup, the Buckeyes are ranked third in both the AP Poll and coaches poll. This week, they have received three first-place votes in the media poll and two from the coaches. Wisconsin is receiving votes in both polls, but it is a combined three votes.

OSU had three major starters miss last week’s game against Penn State, cornerback Denzel Burke, wide receiver Emma Egbuka, and running back TreVeyon Henderson. On Wednesday, head coach Ryan Day confirmed that Henderson would return this week, and upon arrival at the team hotel on Friday, Egbuka and Denzel were accounted for and Day told collected media that both are expected to be available for the game.

Matt’s Prediction: Ohio State 38, Purdue 10

Kyle McCord: 300+ yards passing, 27 completions
TreVeyon Henderson: 25+ yard run and 25+ yard reception

Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Music by: epidemicsound.com

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

Oct 28, 2023

Of the pre-Michigan games, Buckeye Nation is most nervous about Wisconsin
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

Also, three players most impressed Ohio State fans against Penn State.

Believe it or not, but the college football season is now in the home stretch. The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes are 7-0, which means that there are just five regular season games remaining. Obviously, we know what Game No. 12 is, so that leaves four more contests for our beloved Bucks to navigate before The Game. So, we wanted to check in with Ohio State fans in order to see what they were thinking about Wisconsin, Rutgers, Michigan State, and Minnesota.

So, earlier this week in our fan survey, we asked two questions. One was about which pre-Michigan game they were most nervous about, and the other was looking back at last week’s marquee win over Penn State. We wanted to know which player they were most impressed by.

Take a look at the results below and if you have any other thoughts, let us know in the comments at the bottom of the page.

Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

Question 1: Whose performance were you most impressed by in Saturday’s win over Penn State?

I think this is a perfect encapsulation of last week’s 20-12 victory over Penn State. That was a hard-fought team effort that required players from both sides of the ball to have outstanding games in order for the Buckeyes to emerge victorious. I personally would have voted for Jermaine Mathews Jr., simply because he is a true freshman who stepped up and had a fantastic game in his first career start, but I can’t find fault in Marvin Harrison Jr. or J.T. Tuimoloau’s inclusion either.

With three significant starters out in Denzel Burke, Emeka Egbuka, and TreVeyon Henderson, guys were called upon to carry a heavier load than normal, and nearly without exception, they did that. I came out of last week’s game feeling very good about the Buckeyes’ chances the rest of the way; in fact, in our postgame press conference, I said that I thought it was time to acknowledge that Ohio State should be the No. 1 team in the country, and not only do I stand by that, but I think they are the College Football Playoff favorites at this point.

Editor’s Note: Yes, the graphic misspelled Jermaine’s last name, we didn’t make it, but we apologize anyway.

Question 2: What game are you most nervous about before the Michigan regular-season finale?

I think this is the obvious answer for many reasons: The Badgers have a much stronger pedigree than the other teams on the Buckeyes’s schedule, playing at Camp Randall at night is always a tricky proposition, going up against Luke Fickell in his first game as a Big Ten head coach against his alma mater; all of that adds into the anxiousness surrounding this game.

However. as I discussed in this morning’s “Land-Grant Tailgate Podcast,” the Badgers are starting a quarterback who has made only one start before and who struggled to beat Illinois last weekend. So, with all due respect to Braedyn Locke, I just am not too nervous about what he brings to the table. Yes, Braelon Allen is a legitimate horse in the backfield, but the Buckeyes have always had a way to shut down Badger running backs, so I’ll take my chances.

Honestly, I’m not super worried about any of these teams, but keep an eye on the Fighting Greg Schianos next weekend. I don’t expect Rutgers to beat the Buckeyes, but their defense is only giving up 15.8 points and 276.8 yards per game. If Ryan Day, Kyle McCord, and company can’t get things figured out, things could get a little wonky for the offense in Piscataway.

Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Continue reading...

Oct 28, 2023

OHIO STATE GAMEDAY: It’s a bad day to be a Wisconsin Badger
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 14 Ohio State at Purdue

Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Buckeyes have to avoid a potential trap game in Madison.

Wake up, everyone. It’s Ohio State game day!

The Buckeyes are coming off a hard-fought win over Penn State at Ohio Stadium last weekend, and now travel to one of the Big Ten’s toughest venues to take on Luke Fickell’s Wisconsin team. It sounds like Ohio State will be nearly back to full strength, with guys like TreVeyon Henderson, Denzel Burke and Emeka Egbuka all expected to be back. Still, Ryan Day cannot afford to take the Badgers lightly, as Braelon Allen is one of the nation’s best running backs and Camp Randall is the most hostile environment OSU has seen so far this season.

Over the past week, our talented group of writers and podcasters have put together preview pieces, analytical breakdowns, and everything in-between.

If you missed out on any of the coverage, we have you... well, covered. Below, each type of story is categorized. If you’re looking for podcasts and previews we’ve done, you can find them; if you’re looking for the betting lines and non-football topics, they are there, too.

Enjoy the day everyone. As always, Go Bucks!

Podcasts

Previews

Sports Betting

Basketball

Recruiting

Ask LGHL

Which Ohio State player impressed you most against Penn State?

Other Columns

Oct 27, 2023

Three Things To Watch at Wisconsin
Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State needs to be on alert for a trap game in Camp Randall Stadium

For the first time since the 2016 season, when Ohio State won in overtime, 30-23, the Buckeyes are traveling to notoriously difficult Camp Randall Stadium to face their longtime Big Ten rivals, the Wisconsin Badgers. To put this in context, current Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was not on the staff that season, so this will be the first time for several coaches and players to experience one of the most challenging environments to play a football game.

Wisconsin currently has a 5-2 record, with a 3-1 record in The Big Ten. Former Ohio State player and assistant coach Luke Fickell is in his first year, trying to transform the Badgers from a power running team to a more diverse unit offensively, hiring Phil Longo as his offensive coordinator. The move to an “Air Raid” system under Longo has not gone smoothly, as the personnel on hand, as well as an injury to starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai, have forced the Badgers to be more reliant upon their running game, as in seasons past.

After the 15-6 loss to Iowa on Oct. 14, Fickell remarked about the Wisconsin offense,

“I don’t think they’re trying to find what their identity needs to be...I think we’re trying to find how it fits with the people we have as much as anything.”

Below are Three Things To Watch at Wisconsin when the ball kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

The Ohio State defense against the Wisconsin running game

As written up above, Wisconsin is still heavily reliant upon their big offensive line, and bolstered by RB Braleon Allen. Allen presently sits with 708 yards, averages 4.8 yards per carry, and is coming off an impressive 29 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown at Illinois last week.

Along those lines, Ohio State cannot afford to become complacent defensively. Yes, Ohio State is coming off an impressive performance versus Penn State, limiting the Nittany Lions to a total of 49 yards on the ground. If anything, Wisconsin will probably try to help redshirt freshman quarterback Braedyn Locke, who has been thrust into the starting lineup, due to Mordecai’s injury. Locke completed 21 of 41 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns versus Illinois, and will probably need the Badgers’ running game to keep him from getting into obvious passing situations.

Considering Wisconsin may be so focused on running the ball, I am anxious to see how Ohio State LB Tommy Eichenberg handles the responsibility of shutting down Allen, and making Wisconsin one-dimensional offensively.

2. Will Carnell Tate be more involved offensively against Wisconsin?

Emeka Egbuka did not play in last week’s game versus Penn State, and may be limited at Wisconsin. This may open up more opportunities for freshman wide receiver Carnell Tate, who has 11 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown this season.

Yes, I know that Marvin “don’t call me Maserati in front of Michael Citro” Harrison Jr. is coming off a banner game against Penn State, but it is my belief that Fickell is going to try to double cover Harrison to limit his effectiveness in the Ohio State passing game, thus presenting Kyle McCord with finding Tate in single game coverage situations.

3. Beware the trap game

In 2017, Ohio State had an emotional 39-38 home win against Penn State, and then went on the road to Iowa to get crushed, 55-24. That painful loss helped cement Ohio State’s absence from the College Football Playoff that season.

As noted up above, this is the first time Ohio State has ventured into Camp Randall Stadium since their overtime win in 2016. Throw in the last time Ohio State played a Luke Fickell-coached team, and how the Buckeyes blanked Cincinnati, 42-0. Last year’s Wisconsin team was easily handled by Ohio State, in what was one of the last games coached by Paul Chryst. Getting the picture?

This Wisconsin team, although a substantial underdog, is eagerly looking at this game for a chance at redemption, in front of a nationally televised audience. Ohio State had best be prepared for the best that the Badgers will give them.

If Ohio State can effectively make Wisconsin one-dimensional offensively by shutting down or substantially limiting Braelon Allen’s effectiveness running the ball, then this game will fall upon Braedyn Locke’s shoulders to pull off the upset. While Locke may have a bright future in Madison, the Buckeyes are starting to come into their own defensively, and should be able to get this one under control by the beginning of the fourth quarter.

I have it Ohio State 38, Wisconsin 17.

Continue reading...

Oct 27, 2023

MC&J: Week 9 in the Big Ten will see if Ohio State can continue their streak of covering
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes are 14.5-point favorite in Saturday’s night showdown with Wisconsin in Madison.

Last week ATS: 9-4 (4-3 National, 5-1 B1G)

Season ATS: 69-67 (29-41 National, 40-26 B1G)

My picks for Oregon-Utah and six other intriguing national games can be found here.

B1G games

Indiana v. No. 10 Penn State (-31.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - CBS

One thing we know about Penn State is the Nittany Lions love to beat up on bad teams. That’s bad news for Indiana, especially after Penn State wasn’t able to get much of anything going last week in Columbus. There is the chance the Nittany Lions could have a bit of a hangover after loss to the Buckeyes, but the Hoosiers don’t have enough talent to take advantage of a sluggish start from James Franklin’s team.

Normally I wouldn’t be a fan of laying this many points in a Big Ten game. This is a different situation, though. Drew Allar and the Penn State offense are going to put points on the board often in this one. I just don’t see Indiana being able to stay close. A few weeks ago the Hoosiers came out hot and score a touchdown on Michigan early, only to allow the Wolverines to run off 52 unanswered points. This game against Penn State could have a very similar scoreline.

Penn State 48, Indiana 10

Maryland (-13.5) v. Northwestern - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network

Just when you think Maryland has things figured out, then the Terps go all Maryland. The loss to Ohio State was understandable. The loss to Illinois was inexcusable. Mike Locksley’s team had last week off to regroup and figure out how they are going to snap their two-game losing streak.

Northwestern plays hard, they just aren’t a good team. It doesn’t help they fired their head coach prior to the season due to the hazing scandal, and they are now on their backup quarterback. Last week against Nebraska, Brendan Sullivan was 12-of-23 for 176 yards, and he tossed an interception. The biggest issue for the Wildcats is they can’t run the football, which will put even more pressure on Sullivan to make plays.

With a week off to recharge, I think we see a better performance out of Maryland, especially since they know a win will make them bowl eligible. The offense of the Terrapins has too many weapons for the Wildcats to slow down. I trust Maryland to win by more than two touchdowns more than I trust Northwestern to lose by less than 14 points.

Maryland 34, Northwestern 14

Michigan State v. Minnesota (-7) - 3:30 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network

If anyone is having problems with insomnia, this is the game for you. Michigan State is fresh off getting embarrassed by Michigan in East Lansing on Saturday night. Even if Michigan wasn’t stealing signs, it wouldn’t have mattered since Sparty is dreadful this year. Katin Houser doesn’t look like the answer at quarterback for Michigan State, but right now he’s the best they got, which is a scary thing to say.

At least Minnesota comes into this game feeling good about themselves after gritting out a 12-10 win at Iowa on Saturday. It’s not like the Golden Gophers set the world on fire though, as they amassed less than 250 yards of offense in the victory. Then again, it wasn’t like Minnesota was piling up the points before the game against the Hawkeyes.

As bad as the Spartans have been this year, I don’t like the idea of laying a touchdown with a Minnesota offense that has struggled to score points this year. Michigan State can’t possibly play as bad as they did last week. This game is an ugly affair that is decided by a field goal.

Minnesota 20, Michigan State 17

Purdue v. Nebraska (-2.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - FS1

Are you ready to talk to your children about bowl eligible Nebraska? The Cornhuskers still have some work to do, but they are two wins away from being bowl eligible for the first time since 2017. Even though last week’s win over Northwestern wasn’t pretty, all that matters is Nebraska sent the Wildcats back to Evanston with a loss. Heinrich Haarberg has been serviceable at quarterback after taking over for Georgia Tech transfer Jeff Sims Jr.

The first season for Ryan Walters as head coach of Purdue has been a nightmare. The Boilermakers are 2-5, with their latest loss being a 41-7 stomping at the hands of Ohio State a couple weeks ago. Hudson Card doesn’t have the weapons to work with to put points up like the Purdue teams of the last few years, while Devin Mockobee and the running game have pretty much been non-existent.

I trust Nebraska a lot more than I trust Purdue right now. Matt Rhule is stacking wins in his first season in Lincoln, which is exactly what the program needs to do if they want to return to prominence. Scott Frost tried to run before the Cornhuskers could walk, which is a mistake that it seems like Rhule isn’t making. Nebraska gets one step closer to bowl eligibility with a win on Saturday.

Nebraska 28, Purdue 20

No. 3 Ohio State (-14.5) v. Wisconsin - 7:30 p.m. ET - NBC

Fresh off their 20-12 win over Penn State last week, Ohio State now heads to Madison to take on Wisconsin. Recent history hasn’t been kind to the Buckeyes at Camp Randall, as they have lost a couple games at the home of the Badgers since 2002, and their four wins have all been by a touchdown or less.

The scary thing about the Buckeyes is they aren’t hitting at all cylinders yet on offense. TreVeyon Henderson and Emeka Egbuka have been injured, while the play from the offensive line has been a disappointment. Even with those issues, the Buckeyes are still undefeated and look like they’ll cruise into Ann Arbor for a showdown with the Wolverines at the end of next month.

Wisconsin is battered and bruised heading into Saturday night’s clash. Running back Chez Mellusi is out for the season, while quarterback Tanner Mordecai is sidelined with a broken hand. With their backs against the wall, the Badgers are still a tough team to put away. Just ask Illinois, who blew a 14-point fourth quarter lead to Wisconsin last week.

If Ohio State is able to keep Braelon Allen in check, they should have no trouble winning this game. Allen is pretty much the only offensive threat Wisconsin has. A key for the Buckeyes will be to put up points early, forcing backup quarterback Braedyn Locke to have to throw the football to try and catch up.

While Wisconsin will be hyped to try and earn Luke Fickell a victory in a game against his alma mater, it’s not going to be enough. The Buckeyes have too much talent for the Badgers to match up with. Wisconsin has struggled to find their identity this season as they try and throw the football more. A game against Ohio State isn’t going to help any of that.

Ohio State 38, Wisconsin 17

Continue reading...

Oct 28, 2023

Our streaming expert has the best ways to watch Ohio State vs. Wisconsin for free without cable
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by George Rose/Getty Images

You’ve got a number of free trials you can choose from of various lengths and breadths.

Even though the Buckeyes are on a nine-game winning streak against the Wisconsin Badgers, things always get a little hairy up in Camp Randall, so when No. 3 Ohio State takes on the Luke Fickell-led team at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, you will not want to miss a single second of the action.

However, as cord-cutting has become far more the norm than the exception across the United States, it would not be a surprise if you gave up cable or a live-streaming service following last year’s season only to realize that it’s the day of the game and you have no way to watch it.

And I know it can be incredibly confusing to find the best way to watch a game in today’s entertainment landscape. Fortunately for you, I am something of a streaming expert... no really, I write about streaming services for a living. So, I am going to walk you through the best — and cheapest — ways for you to stream today’s game.

Also, if you want to put a little money on the game over at DraftKings Sportsbook, not only would it make what could be a blowout even more exciting, but you could make enough cash to pay for a full month of cable or streaming!

How can I watch the Ohio State vs. Wisconsin college football game?

Game Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Broadcasters: Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge, Kathryn Tappen
Betting Line: Ohio State -14.5 | 45.5 o/u
Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

Best Streaming Option to Watch Ohio State vs. Notre Dame: DIRECTV STREAM | 5-Day Free Trial

Last year, NBC signed a massive new media rights deal with the Big Ten Conference taking part of the rights that had once belonged to Disney and ESPN. That means that every week, NBCUniversal will broadcast a prime-time Big Ten game on NBC and exclusive games on the company’s streaming service Peacock, which you can get for $5.99 or $11.99 per month.

Like with the Big Ten Network, every team in the league will have a game on Peacock at some point this season — OSU’s was against Purdue in Week 6 — and tonight’s game will be simulcast on the streamer, as is every NBC game.

So, if you are looking to stream the game, DIRECTV STREAM is your best option. The live TV streaming service has the only guaranteed multi-day free trial in the industry and provides the most top cable channels of all of its competitors. The basic, Entertainment package comes with all of the major network channels — all of which have college football — ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. It also has ESPN, ESPN2, and FS1. Then, if you want to upgrade, other packages include the ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPNU, SEC Network, CBS Sports Network, Longhorn Network, and more.

What’s great about DIRECTV STREAM’s free trial is that you are able to sign up for whatever package you want for free. You don’t have to worry about being charged for upgraded plans. So, you can simply sign up for the top-tier Premier package — which normally costs $154.99 per month — enjoy all 140 channels for five days and then cancel.

Other Streaming Options for the Ohio State and Wisconsin Game:

Fubo: $84.99 per month, at least a one-day free trial
Sling TV: $40 per month, 50% off first month (NBC is only available in 11 media markets)
Peacock: $11.99 per month on Peacock Premium Plus (NBCU channels only)
Hulu + Live TV: $69.99 per month
YouTube TV: $72.99 per month

Join the conversation

Below is your Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2023 game thread. Be respectful, be kind and — as always — keep it classy, BuckeyeNation. If you like GIFs, lay ‘em on us. In all, be good fans, cheer for your teams, be cool to each other (even if somebody else isn’t) and everyone wins. Let’s finish the season strong!

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

Oct 27, 2023

Stick to Sports Podcast: What do Michigan, the Denver Airport, and Blucifer have in common?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

(JS) ABOVE: A 32-foot sculpture commissioned three years before Denver International Airport opened was finally installed in the median of Pena Boulevard leading up to the terminal. “Mustang” was bolted onto a concrete base. Creation of the sculpture surv

Photo By Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images

We’re also hyped to be facing an old friend tomorrow.

Land-Grant Holy Land’s Stick to Sports is unlike any podcast you’ve heard on the Ohio State beat. Your hosts, Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, will (of course) talk Ohio State sports, but the primary focus of the show will be on what’s going on around the periphery, such as weird/funny happenings in college football and the sports world at large, as well as other things that keep us interested in between games, whether that’s pop culture, social media trends— you name it.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

On this episode of the Land-Grant Podcast Network’s sports-adjacent podcast “Stick to Sports,” Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich laugh nearly uncontrollably about the bumbling nature with which the University of Michigan football program handled its illegal spying program. Was it successful for two years? Who really knows? But the keystone cops’ way they went about it makes its unraveling that much funnier.

They also dive into how this has brought out the goofiest conspiracy theories from the Corn and Blue fans, reminiscent of one of Jami’s favorite conspiracy theories. Finally, they talk about OSU facing Luke Fickell, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and the joys of Hallmark Christmas movies.

Jami’s Recommendation: “Killers of the Flower Moon”

https://www.killersoftheflowermoonmovie.com

Matt’s Recommendation: Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas

https://thestreamable.com/news/holi...-hallmark-great-american-family-lifetime-more

Connect with Jami Jurich
Twitter: @JamiJur ich

Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Theme music provided by www.bensound.com

Oct 27, 2023

You’re Nuts: Which teams will make the 2024 men’s Final Four?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

NCAA Basketball: Final Four National Semifinals-Miami vs UCONN

Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Why not take a swing at this five months in advance?

Now that we are quite literally on the cusp of college basketball season (10 days, people), some of those “way-too-early” predictions about the 2023-2024 season are no longer “way-too-early.” In fact, the season starts so soon, that if you don’t get your hot takes in now, it’ll be too late come November. Nobody wants to hear that you’re on the Arkansas train (for example), four weeks into the season when they’re 6-0 and ranked No. 5 in the country!

This week, we’re making our Final Four picks. This time last year, Connor and Justin made these picks, and Connor nailed Miami. Can either of the guys correctly predict even one Final Four team this year?

Last week, the guys both picked an in-state team that they’d love to see Ohio State play on an annual basis. Connor picked the Dayton Flyers, who the Buckeye beat this past weekend at UD Arena in a charity exhibition game, 78-70. Justin went with the Xavier Musketeers, who are led by the recently-extended Sean Miller.

43% of the people picked Dayton, 38% picked Xavier, and the remaining 19% picked “someone else.”

After 123 weeks:

Connor- 56
Justin- 49
Other- 14

(There have been four ties)

This week, the guys are calling their shots on the Final Four. Last season’s Final Four did not include any teams seeded higher than four (The National Champion UConn Huskies were a four-seed), so if you think it’ll be a group of teams that are all ranked in the AP Top 25, think again.

Today’s Question: Which teams will make the 2024 men’s Final Four?

Connor - Arizona, Arkansas, Creighton, Miami

Arizona

AP Rank: 12
KenPom Rank: 6

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Of all the teams that have a reputation for being good in the regular season but stinking up the joint in March, Arizona is right up there with the best of them. If it weren’t for Purdue losing to FDU, Arizona’s loss to Princeton in the first round would’ve been a much bigger story. As a matter of fact, Tommy Lloyd should send Matt Painter some flowers — the Purdue loss completely took the heat off of Arizona.

The Wildcats haven’t been good in March for some time now, but I’m drinking the Kool-Aid this year. Lloyd crushed the transfer portal, bringing in San Diego State forward Keshad Johnson, North Carolina guard Caleb Love, and Alabama guard Jaden Bradley. They also lost Kerr Kriisa, which is actually addition by subtraction, in my opinion.

Arizona is going to have one of the best offenses in the country and will be one of the most experienced teams as well with the likes of Ballo, Love, Johnson, Pelle Larson, and others. The final PAC-12 championship is theirs to lose.

Creighton

AP Rank: 8
KenPom Rank: 12

Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Creighton was very close to making its first Final Four in program history last season but came up just short in the Elite Eight against San Diego State. But they’re running back three of the starters from last year, each of whom could be an All-American this year. Baylor Scheierman is a big-time lefty scorer who can drop in three-pointers or take the ball to the rack. Ryan Kalkbrenner is one of the most efficient scorers in the nation, as well as one of the very best defenders. Trey Alexander dabbled with the NBA after scoring 13.6 PPG last season but is back at Creighton for one more year.

On top of that, the Blue Jays added Utah State point guard Steven Ashworth in to replace Ryan Nembhard, who transferred to Gonzaga. Creighton doesn’t have great depth, but they’ll once again have one of the best starting lineups in the country. They’re one injury away from not being close to a Final Four team, but if they can keep that starting lineup healthy, they could win it all.

Arkansas

AP Rank: 14
KenPom Rank: 14

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Musselman is at it again, folks. He took the Razorbacks to another Sweet 16, lost a ton of talent from that team, but immediately re-loaded in the portal. Arkansas brought in six players in the portal that are expected to contribute, headlined by Temple’s Khalif Battle, Houston’s Tramon Mark, and Louisville’s El Ellis.

That’s all on top of the fact that Devo Davis (10.9 PPG) and Trevon Brazile (11.8 PPG) are both returning. There’s a chance that Arkansas could roll out a starting five made up exclusively of guys who averaged 10+ PPG last season. That’s absurd.

And don’t forget that Musselman’s Arkansas teams are perenially one of the best defensive teams in the nation. The top of the SEC is stacked, but Arkansas could easily win it.

Miami

AP Rank: 13
KenPom Rank: 6

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

It’s easy to hate on the school that’s been throwing bags of money at guys, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still really freaking good. The Hurricanes lost two big-time players in Jordan Miller and Isaiah Wong, but they return three starters and have a breakout candidate, too.

Nijel Pack and Norchad Omier are both back. Pack will continue to do what he does — score in high volume and knock down a ton of threes. Omier should expand on his 13/10 average from last season as he continues to adjust to the ACC. Wooga Poplar is a guy who only played about 23 minutes per game last season, but is a very good all-around guard, and is one of the most talked-about breakout candidates in college basketball this year.

They also added Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland, a 6-foot-7 junior who scored nearly 14 PPG last season. Yeah, Miami is going to be just fine.

Justin - Kansas, Duke, Michigan State, Creighton

Kansas

AP Rank: 1
KenPom Rank: 2

Kansas added Hunter Dickinson to an already great core of players like Dajuan Harris, KJ Adams, and Kevin McCullar. Nick Timberlake is a Towson transfer who will also be immediately scoring help for the Jayhawks.

Elmarko Jackson is a top recruit coming in that will have an impact immediately. The mix of veterans and two top-10 transfers coming in will be big for them, and they don’t need too much depth because Bill Self usually does not go too far into his bench anyway, especially late in the season.

Duke

AP Rank: 2
KenPom Rank: 9

I think Duke is the best team in the country. This could also be a holdover from last season when I picked Duke to win the National Championship, and they lost to Tennessee in the Second Round, so who knows. But Kyle Filipkowski is one of the best players in the country, and Tyrese Proctor. With Jeremy Roach and Mark Mitchell back, the Duke starting five will likely be the best in the country.

Jared McCain and Sean Stewart are two of the best freshmen in the country and will make an immediate impact for the Blue Devils.

Michigan State

AP Rank: 4
KenPom Rank: 13

What wins in March? Guard play, experience, and coaching. The Spartans definitely have all three of those. A.J. Hoggard, Tyson Walker, and Jaden Akins make up one of the top backcourts in the country. The only question will be how impactful this top recruiting class the Spartans have coming in, and if they can be impactful right away, this is one of the best teams in the country.

Creighton

AP Rank: 8
KenPom Rank: 12

I gave up a little bit on Creighton when they lost Ryan Nembhard, but the coaching staff did a great job going and getting Utah State veteran guard Steven Ashworth. Ryan Kalkbrenner is one of the best players in the country, and Trey Alexander and Baylor Scheierman are legitimate All-Big 12 players. This is a deep team that checks all the boxes after an Elite Eight run last year.

Oct 27, 2023

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin: 2023 game preview and prediction
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images

Ohio State will be looking to buck the trend of recent close games at Camp Randall Stadium.

Following their second win this season over a top-10 team, Ohio State hits the road the next two weeks. This week, the Buckeyes head to Madison to take on Wisconsin and former Ohio State player and coach Luke Fickell on Saturday night. The Buckeyes will be looking to win their 16th consecutive regular season night game, with their last loss under the lights coming back in 2018 at Purdue.

Ohio State has largely dominated the series with the Badgers, posting a 62-18-5 all-time record against Wisconsin. Trips to Madison have been a little tougher to navigate lately. In their six appearances at Camp Randall Stadium since 2002, Ohio State has won four of those six contests, but all of those wins have come by seven points or less. Overall, the Buckeyes are 27-11-2 in Madison.

Last week Ohio State notched their seventh straight win over Penn State, beating the Nittany Lions 20-12. Even though the Buckeyes were without TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka, and Denzel Burke, they still were able to hand the Nittany Lions their first loss of the season thanks to monster performances from Marvin Harrison Jr. and J.T. Tuimoloau.

Money Marv and the Buckeye ballers

Marvin Harrison Jr. continued his hot streak, recording at least 100 yards receiving and a touchdown for the third straight contest, finishing with 11 catches for 162 yards and a score against the Nittany Lions. Harrison is now just two 100-yard receiving games from tying David Boston’s school record of 14 games hitting the century mark. If the junior wide receiver can continue his stellar play it is going to be tough to exclude him from being a Heisman Trophy finalist since he has been the constant in the Ohio State offense.

What the Buckeyes are going to need if they want to be a true national title contender is more consistency from quarterback Kyle McCord. The first-year starter has done a great job at playing clean throughout the year, but there are stretches where he struggles with his accuracy. McCord has shown he can make plays in the toughest of situations, which makes his lapses when there isn’t as much pressure a bit puzzling. So far this year McCord has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just one interception, which came in the season opener against Indiana.

The return of a couple key offensive players could help McCord with some of his consistency issues. Emeka Egbuka and TreVeyon Henderson both missed last week’s victory over Penn State. Egbuka returning to the field will take some of the pressure off Marvin Harrison Jr., and also give opposing defenses another playmaker to have to gameplan for. Before getting injured in the Maryland game, Egbuka had grabbed 22 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns.

The return of Henderson would be an even bigger bonus to the Ohio State offense, since the Buckeyes have not had much success running the football this season. Last week against Penn State, Miyan Williams saw the bulk of the carries, toting the rock 24 times for just 62 yards. Henderson gives the Buckeye rushing attack a home run ability that Williams and Chip Trayanum just don’t possess. Dallan Hayden does have some of the similar game-breaking ability as Henderson, but for some reason he can’t get on the field even though he is electric every time he touches the football.

The defense continues to dominate

Ohio State’s defense continues to shut down every challenge put in front of them. Last week the Buckeyes snapped Penn State’s 13-game streak of scoring at least 30 points. Even though the defense wasn’t able to force Drew Allar into throwing his first interception this season, Ohio State was still all over Allar throughout the game, forcing him into his worst performance as a starter. Against the Nittany Lions, the Buckeyes recorded six tackles for loss and four sacks.

Following a slow start to the season, J.T. Tuimoloau continued his strong play of late. Not only did Tuimoloau record a sack last week, he now has four sacks over the last three games. The four sacks by Tuimoloau this year lead the team. Along with Tuimoloau, Sonny Styles, Caden Curry, and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. also were able to get to the quarterback against the Nittany Lions.

Even though the Ohio State secondary was without Denzel Burke last week, the defensive backs gave up very little to Penn State. Jermaine Matthews Jr. played a huge role at corner, stepping in to take some of the snaps in Burke’s place. Along with the freshman, Davison Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock were rock solid at the corners.

A lot of credit for the success without Burke can be attributed to safeties Sonny Styles, Josh Proctor, and Lathan Ransom. Those three safeties allowed the corners to play with confidence since they knew they had those talents behind them to give them a bit of security if they did happen to get beaten. Proctor had two passes defensed last week, while Ransom, Hancock, and Matthews all had one PD.

A familiar face

After starting a then-school record 50 consecutive games from 1993 to 1996 and then coaching on the Ohio State staff for 16 years, Luke Fickell will be coaching against his alma mater on Saturday night. After leading Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff in 2021, Fickell moved on to Wisconsin at the end of the 2022. Fickell coached in Wisconsin’s bowl game, leading the Badgers to a 24-17 win over Oklahoma State in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. The former Buckeye has coached against his former team on one other occasion, as Cincinnati was shutout 42-0 by Ohio State in 2019.

Wisconsin needs two more wins to clinch their 22nd consecutive winning season. Currently their streak of 21 straight winning seasons is the longest among Power 5 schools. On Saturday night the Badgers will also be looking for their first win over a top-three team since 2010, when they beat the Buckeyes in Madison. Saturday’s contest will be the first night game at Camp-Randall Stadium since 2020 when they played their opener under the lights against Illinois.

Wisconsin’s offense is battered and bruised

The Badgers were dealt a huge blow in the 15-6 loss to Iowa a couple weeks ago when Tanner Mordecai suffered a hand injury. Mordecai transferred into the program from SMU and was brought in to run Phil Longo’s air raid offense. The reliance on the passing game hasn’t quite taken off quite like Fickell and Longo had hoped, as Mordecai had only thrown for 1,127 yards, three touchdowns, and three picks prior to being injured.

Stepping in for Mordecai is Braedyn Locke. In his first start last week against Illinois, the freshman completed 21-of-41 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. The Badgers were able to rally from a 14-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter to win their first Big Ten game in the Modern Era after trailing by at least 14 points in the fourth quarter. Locke’s three-yard touchdown pass to Nolan Rucci with 27 seconds left to secure the victory.

Along with Mordecai not being available to play, Wisconsin also lost running back Chez Mellusi for the season. Prior to being injured in the win against Purdue, the Clemson transfer was averaging six yards per carry. The loss of Mellusi puts the football in the hands of Braelon Allen more, which isn’t a bad thing. After running for at least 1,200 yards in each of the last two seasons, Allen has already ran for 704 yards and eight touchdowns this year. Last week against the Fighting Illini, Allen carried the football 29 times and finished with 145 yards and a touchdown.

When the Badgers do throw the football, Will Pauling has been the primary target this season. Pauling has caught 37 passes for 398 yards and a score through the first seven games of the year. Along with Pauling, Braelon Allen, Skyler Bell, Bryson Green, and Chimere Dike have all caught at least 16 passes this year. While Wisconsin is spreading the football around, no Badger receiver has found the end zone more than once this year.

While a lot on the Wisconsin offense is changing, the Badgers still have a great offensive line. In the middle of the line is Tanor Bortolini, who was named Outland Trophy Player of the Week for his performance in the first game of the season against Buffalo. Dublin native Joe Huber followed Fickell from Cincinnati to Madison and is now the starting left guard for the Badgers. Left tackle will be manned by Jack Nelson, while 2021 four-star recruit Riley Mahlman will be at right tackle, and Michael Furtney rounds out the line at right guard.

What to expect from the Wisconsin defense

Expect to hear Hunter Wohler’s name called early and often on Saturday. The safety is leading Wisconsin with 70 tackles this season, and the junior has intercepted two passes. Wohler is often used in the “Dollar” position in defensive coordinator Mike Tressel’s defense. Ricardo Hallman will also be a key player in the secondary for Wisconsin, as the sophomore cornerback from Miami has four interceptions this year, which leads the Big Ten.

Leading Wisconsin in sacks this year is linebacker Darryl Peterson, who had 1.5 sacks last week against Illinois, bringing his total for the season to 3.5 sacks. Peterson will have a lot to prove against his home state team after growing up in Akron. C.J. Goetz also has made a lot of plays this season at the other outside linebacker spot. Goetz has 5.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and an interception through seven games.

A couple of Ohioans will be on the defensive line of the Badgers on Saturday night. Columbus native Rodas Johnson is coming off a career-high six tackle performance against Illinois. The senior was a four-star recruit from St. Francis DeSales. On the other end of the defensive line is James Thompson Jr., who is from Cincinnati. Thompson leads all Wisconsin defensive linemen with three sacks so far this season. Senior Gio Paez will line up in between Johnson and Thompson.

Summary

After coming off a big win like Ohio State had last week against Penn State, there is always a possibility of a letdown, especially when playing in primetime in a hostile environment. This doesn’t feel like a situation where the Buckeyes are going to struggle to earn a victory, though. Ryan Day’s crew is brimming with confidence after beating their second top-10 team this year, and they know if they handle their business a showdown with Michigan is looming at the end of November.

Saturday’s contest against Wisconsin would be a little more worrisome if the Badgers weren’t dealing with injuries to Mordecai and Mellusi. Braelon Allen is a threat to find the end zone everytime he touches the football, but the Buckeyes have been one of the best teams in the country at stopping the run. If Ohio State is able to bottle up Allen, they’ll put even more pressure on freshman quarterback Braedyn Locke, who doesn’t have much experience against a defensive as good as what he’ll see from the Buckeyes.

The biggest question for Ohio State in this game is going to be who they’ll have available to play on Saturday night. If Henderson and Egbuka are able to play, it’ll be a huge boost to an already dangerous offense. Adding Egbuka to the mix will give the Wisconsin secondary another challenge to go along with figuring out how to slow down Marvin Harrison Jr. The return of Henderson’s big play ability would compliment the bruising running styles of Chip Trayanum and Miyan Williams on the ground.

Last time Ohio State was coming off a huge win, Maryland hung with the Buckeyes for over half the game. Some of the sluggish start could be a bit of rust after having the week after the Notre Dame game off. On Saturday night Ohio State will be juiced up and ready to go as they’ll be trying to quiet down the Badger faithful in Madison. The Buckeyes don’t disappoint and they take down a Wisconsin team that is not only struggling with injuries, but also trying to find their identity under Luke Fickell.

LGHL prediction: Ohio State 38, Wisconsin 17

Oct 27, 2023

Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Kennedy Cambridge
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Looking at how the former Kentucky Wildcat fits into the Buckeyes

The Ohio State women’s basketball team added three transfers in the offseason. Of the three, two are short-term adds to the roster, joining as graduate seniors. The third is sophomore guard Kennedy Cambridge.

A Nashville, Tennessee native, Cambridge left SEC country and the Kentucky Wildcats to the Big Ten. With limited minutes with Kentucky, will the 23-24 season see more opportunities for Cambridge or will her addition turn into long-term benefits for the Buckeyes?

Name: Kennedy Cambridge
Position: Guard
Class: Sophomore
High School: Ensworth High School (Nashville, Tennessee)
2022-23 Stats: 2.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, .488 FG%, .250 3FG%, .350 FT%

Last Season

Cambridge played her freshman season in SEC country, and when you look beyond total accumulative stats, there are performances that should excite Buckeye fans. While no games jump out in scoring — Cambridge’s high is nine points in her first college game against non-conference opponent UNC Greensboro — it's the rebounding and defensive performances throughout the year.

In two games against the Georgia Bulldogs, Cambridge grabbed eight rebounds apiece. When the two sides first met, the now-Buckeye guard did it in only 19 minutes on the court. Cambridge also had multiple games where she grabbed at least two steals, in six of her 19 appearances.

Following the season, when discussing her move to Ohio State, Cambridge mentioned how she felt cared for at Kentucky but nowhere close to how she feels in Columbus. Could a different environment lead to more of an opportunity to turn those individual standout performances into more consistent play?

What to Expect

Defense, defense, defense. Cambridge has a motor and uses it to stick to offensive opponents on the court. Last season, in limited minutes, Cambridge showed why she was pursued by head coach Kevin McGuff and the coaching staff.

The guard will fit well into the press of the scarlet and gray. When it’s on, Ohio State’s fullcourt presence requires quick feet and getting back into the half court, if the press doesn’t create a turnover. Cambridge can do that shift into half-court defense, meaning she won’t lose an offensive player who slips through the cracks.

Offensively, Cambridge hasn’t shown full capabilities from a limited bench role with Kentucky, but she can get to the basket. As Cambridge grows as an NCAA basketball player, she could make similar runs to teammate Jacy Sheldon, getting past defenders, hitting layups, and getting to the foul line.

Prediction

Cambridge has a tough group of upperclassmen guards in front of her if she wants consistent minutes. It’s more likely that Cambridge uses this season as a learning opportunity behind players whom she shares characteristics with on the court. Watching graduate senior Celeste Taylor especially will be beneficial for the sophomore guard, with Cambridge potentially jumping into a similar role next season with all the exits at the end of the season.

However, coach McGuff values defense above all and Cambridge can come into games this season and make stops. Cambridge showed at Kentucky and at the high school level that her awareness makes her a valuable piece of the Buckeyes roster. It just won’t be from the starting five or one of the first off the bench.

This summer, Cambridge couldn’t participate with the team in its summer conditioning and practice. It wasn’t until mid-August that the guard was on the court running drills, only watching from the sidelines until that point.

Watch what Cambridge brings to the court now, but expect more in future seasons as she’s part of the next group of Buckeyes to run the team for the next two to three years.

Highlights

Check out a video from Cambridge back in her high school years. While it focuses mainly on offense, Cambridge is a player Buckeyes fans can expect to be playing on both sides of the ball. Not highlighted specifically in the video is Cambridge’s high school teammate and younger sister Jaloni Cambridge, the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2024 class and No. 1 ranked point guard.

Could both don scarlet and gray together? Time will tell.

Coming Real DIFFERENT this year. pic.twitter.com/23J3VqK1Sj

— kennedy cambridge (@kencambridge_) January 8, 2021

Miss a player preview? Here’s who you can read about so far:

Oct 27, 2023

Buckeyes offer 2026 five-star offensive tackle, remain in the mix for 2025 receiver
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Ohio State sends out their latest offer to the top offensive tackle in 2026 Jackson Cantwell.

It’s nearly game day for the Buckeyes as they look to take down Wisconsin tomorrow night in primetime. Still, Thursday saw some recruiting action as the latest offer being sent out in the 2026 class shows that this program never stops recruiting.

Buckeyes dish out latest offer to 2026 offensive tackle

Doesn’t matter the year, Ohio State is looking to bring in top offensive linemen in every recruiting cycle. In the last couple of cycles, Ohio State has built o-line classes on in-state guys, but there is a growing pressure to land the top-ranked national offensive tackles as that has been a position of weakness for OSU this season.

That’s not to say that the Buckeyes haven’t been attempting to do this in previous cycles — in fact, they’ve tried to do time and time again — but while their classes haven’t been disappointments by any means, it shows how high the standard is in Columbus. With other position groups recruiting at exceptionally high levels, the offensive line needs to meet them.

To that end, on Thursday, we learned that Nixa, Missouri native Jackson Cantwell was the latest big-time o-line prospect to receive an Ohio State offer. A 6-foot-7, 300-pound athlete, Cantwell is already the No. 3 player nationally and the top offensive tackle in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Looking at just his size alone that ranking makes perfect sense, but then taking into account his offer list, you see why he’s a five-star target and being recruited heavily by every top program in the country.

Schools such as Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and a host of others are already in the fold, but with Ohio State now in the mix, the two parties can really start to develop a strong relationship. The Buckeyes have fared pretty well over the years in Missouri, so hopefully they can develop a strong relationship with the Nixa High School product and eventually land the top national tackle that they’ve been chasing for years.

Trying this again: After a great talk with @markpantoni, I’m blessed to announce that I have an offer to @OhioStateFB! @CoachJFrye @ryandaytime @CoachSollenne #NSGB pic.twitter.com/rcZaDlKjU7

— Jackson Cantwell (@jcantwell2499) October 26, 2023

Ohio State remains in contention for S. John Bosco Wide Receiver

Not much of a surprise here when you consider the prep school he attends, but California native receiver Kamryn Jones (Bellflower, California/St. John Bosco) is continuing to see his recruitment take off. Taking to Twitter this week to show the current offer list, the Buckeyes are among the likes of Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee, Michigan, Washington, and plenty of others vying for his services.

The No. 438 player nationally, Jones is the 61st-best receiver in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite grades. While certainly not the highest-ranked player that Brian Hartline has recruited, this is likely another scenario where the ranking doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about the player. Hartline has been dominant on the recruiting trail identifying guys that fit the mold that he wants, and if an offer is in hand for Jones, you can take it to the bank that he’s the real deal.

The 2025 cycle already has one receiver in the fold for the Buckeyes thanks to Jayvan Boggs, but like any other year, this class will have two or three more elite guys when all is said and done.

pic.twitter.com/kD35QrTSxr

— Kamryn Jones (@kthagreatt) October 26, 2023

Oct 27, 2023

What prop bets can you make for Ohio State vs. Wisconsin game?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

If you’re betting on whether the final score is even or odd, you need to seek help!

Anytime a team has to play at Camp Randall, it’s a scary proposition, but having to go on the road to Madison the weekend before Halloween for a primetime matchup is especially perilous. Badgers fans have been known to supply both tricks and treats to opposing fans in players, sometimes in the same marshmallow-covered quarters being hurled at the heads of players walking off the field.

As of publishing time, the Bucks are 14.5-point favorites, and the total points line is set at 45.5. But betting on those boring traditional lines isn’t any fun. So, if you want to do everything that you possibly can to enjoy the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes’ night road game on Saturday, Oct. 28, perhaps you would be interested in what unusual prop bets our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook have to offer.

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

Who Will Score First?

This is always a fun one for me because trying to predict who scores first has to take into account a ton of football factors, but also things that are completely left to chance. Yes, you have to be able to analyze both teams’ offenses and defenses, but you’ve also got to keep in mind that who gets the ball first is essentially determined by a random flip of a coin.

Now, against Notre Dame, the Buckeyes won the toss and Ryan Day decided to take the ball (which I wholeheartedly support), but since then, he has opted for the more traditional deferment when given the opportunity. So, there is a bit of strategic thinking that you have to figure in when making this bet. If most teams defer to the second half, but OSU opts to start on offense, that significantly increases the chances that the Buckeyes score first; and, considering that Ohio State’s offense is significantly better than Purdue’s, that feels like a fairly solid bet.

Of course, the most fun bet would be to put a buck or two on each safety option. While almost wholly unlikely, a $1 bet could profit you up to $280, so that’s certainly worth one dollar of sweat. This is actually a pretty low payout for this type of bet, so it looks like Vegas is expecting someone to be pinned pretty deep early on.

How Much Will the Largest Lead of the Game Be?

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the line for the game has risen slightly from 14 to 14.5 points, so the largest lead question is essentially whether or not Ohio State (or I suppose Wisconsin) will ever have a lead five points above the spread. While the Buckeyes did get the cover against Penn State, they have not been an especially great covering team in recent years, so to expect them to go above and beyond the spread at any point seems like something that might not be worth the wager, especially at fairly thin margins.

However, the defense has looked so good lately, that a shutout, or one-score output, from the Badgers is in the cards, meaning that the OSU offense would only need to score three touchdowns to potentially hit this number.

How Many Touchdowns Will Be Scored?

I think this one is fun because of how mixed up the touchdown totals are. It goes 5 to 6 to 4 to 7 to 3 to 8 to 2 all the way up to 9, then to 10 or more, one, and no TDs scored being the longest shot. The distribution of odds is fascinating.

The 5.5 total touchdowns aren’t all that interesting to me from an over/under perspective because I think that’s probably a fairly accurate line. However, I will be trying to decode the pattern in the odds breakdown until kickoff.

What Will the Winning Margin Be?

Again, the line currently sits at 14.5 points for the Buckeyes, so it is interesting to me that there isn’t really a huge gap between OSU winning by 1 to OSU winning by 18. Personally — because I am a terrible gambler — I would probably put a little bit on the 37 to 42 and 43+ options just because I think that there is a moderately decent chance of it happening and the payout is good.

Who Will Score X Number of Points First?

The answer to all of these is Ohio State. Just take Ohio State in all of them.

Who Will Have the Longest Touchdown?

Again, why would you put money on this being the team that doesn’t have Marvin Harrison Jr.?

Will the Final Score Be an Even or Odd Number?

This is for absolute degenerates only, but I need someone who is not completely worthless when it comes to math to walk me through why odd is a not-insignificant favorite here.

Continue reading...

Oct 27, 2023

In Conversation Podcast: Badgers are ‘ongoing process’ as they transition to new look under Fickell
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

We preview Ohio State’s game on Saturday against the Wisconsin Badgers. with The Athletic’s Jesse Temple.

On Land-Grant Holy Land In Conversation, we talk to people in and around Ohio State athletics, and the sporting world at large, to bring you a different insight and perspective to the teams, athletes, and university that you love.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

On today’s episode, Matt Tamanini is in conversation with Jesse Temple from The Athletic. Jesse has been covering the Wisconsin Badgers since 2011 and is able to provide a unique and nuanced insight into the Big Ten West squad that Ohio State will face on Saturday. In their conversation, they get into how former Buckeye Luke Fickell’s first season in Madison has been going, what the Badgers’ new-look offense under coordinator Phil Longo looks like, how Wisconsin might try to shut down Marvin Harrison Jr., and much more.

Connect with Jesse Temple
Twitter: @JesseTemple
Read his work: https://theathletic.com/author/jesse-temple

Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt