College Football Picks - Wisconsin at #9 Ohio State

The undefeated Wisconsin Badgers get their biggest test and reality check of the season as they travel to the famed Horseshoe to meet the 9th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in a first place Big 10 Showdown from Columbus. Kickoff is set for 3:30pm EST and the game can be seen on ABC. The Buckeyes opened as whopping 14.5-point home favorites as the week 6 college football pick with the total set for 47. The Wisconsin Badgers are 5-0 straight up and 2-2 against the spread. They have not gone under the college football odds total so far this year.

Last week the Badgers won their road opener at Minnesota 31-28 and beat the spread as 2.5-point road favorites. This will mark Wisconsin’s first game as an underdog in 2009. The Ohio State Buckeyes have a record of 4-1 straight up and against the spread with 4 out of those 5 games going over the college football betting total. Last week they won at Indiana 33-14 and successfully beat the spread as 17.5-point college football picks. Wisconsin head coach Brett Bielema entered his 4th season on the job this year under fire for the Badgers lackluster 2008 campaign in which they went 7-6 straight up and 5-7 against the spread and finished with a humiliating Champs Sports Bowl blowout loss to Florida State 13-42.

The Badgers were ripped for their lack of discipline and inability to hold leads. Bielema has presented a far better and more polished product this year. The Badgers offense is much improved and ranks 19th in the nation for scoring. They will face a stern test against the Buckeye defense that ranks 8th in the nation for fewest points allowed. A big reason for the Badgers offensive improvement has been junior quarterback Scott Tolzien who has completed 66% of his passes for 1043 yards with 9 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions. The traditionally strong Badger ground attack has been led by John Clay who has 582 yards and 7 touchdowns.

While the Buckeyes rush defense is one of the best they haven’t faced anyone with Clay’s ability so far this year. Ohio State’s offense has been rather mediocre and ranks 47th nationally for scoring. The Badgers defense ranks only 64th in points allowed. Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor does it all as he has 854 yards passing for 8 touchdowns and leads the team in rushing with 298 yards and 3 touchdowns. He must cut down on his interceptions, however, as he has tossed 5 picks this year. The Badgers may be a live dog for this one as they have gotten the college football lines cash in 4 out of their last 5 visits to “The Shoe.”

Franklin's College Football Picks: Is it possible that Wisconsin can stay undefeated straight up against the Buckeyes? Probably not but with 14.5-points they just might. My week 6 college football pick for this game is to take the Badgers plus the points to the OVER. Vegas odds at the Hilton sportsbook have Ohio State -15.5 favorites in week 6 college football odds against Wisconsin with a total of 47.5.