The Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, WI. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET on FOX.
Wisconsin is favored by 3.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -185. The total is set at 157.5 points.
Here’s my Ohio State vs. Wisconsin predictions and college basketball picks for January 31, 2026.
Ohio State vs Wisconsin Prediction
My Pick: Wisconsin -3.5 (Play to -4.5)
My Ohio State vs Wisconsin best bet is on the Badgers to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Odds
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 157.5 -110 / -110 | +155 |
| Wisconsin Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 157.5 -110 / -110 | -185 |
- Ohio State vs Wisconsin spread: Wisconsin -3.5
- Ohio State vs Wisconsin over/under: 157.5 points
- Ohio State vs Wisconsin moneyline: Ohio State +155, Wisconsin -185
Ohio State vs Wisconsin College Basketball Betting Preview
Ohio State Basketball
Ohio State (14-6 overall, 6-4 in the Big Ten) is still a tough team to figure out.
The Buckeyes' offense can be really potent, as they rank 30th in KenPom's offensive efficiency. They shoot just 33% from deep, but scoring inside is their strength, shooting 60% on 2s.
You'd probably think it's just paint dominance leading to the efficient 2-point scoring, but it's more about Bruce Thornton. Ohio State's stud guard leads the team with 19.6 points per game and shoots 55% from the field.
He's terrific at getting into the lane and making plays, and sometimes even posting up smaller guards to find scoring lanes.
Plus, big men Amare Bynum and Devin Royal are also efficient interior scorers. Bynum is 6-foot-8, 220 pounds, and he makes 59% on 2s. He's not a shooting threat, but he's a load to handle at the hoop. Royal plays the three, which is ill-fitting, but he shoots 56% on 2s.
The Buckeyes will be short-handed for this game, too. Jake Diebler hinted that backup guard Gabe Cupps, who isn't much of a factor, will be out, along with starting center Christoph Tilly. Tilly can be a "hub" type big man for the Buckeyes and not having him is concerning. Brandon Noel, another forward, hasn't played for over a month, either.
Expect bigger roles for foul-machine Ivan Njegovan and Colin White, who doesn't add anything offensively.
The biggest problem for Ohio State is defense. The Buckeyes are 71st in KenPom's defensive efficiency, and they have no recourse for stopping teams at the hoop.
Their last five opponents shot better than 57% from inside the arc against them. Without Tilly, it'll be even tougher to keep teams from scoring inside. If Njegovan gets in foul trouble, the Buckeyes will have no real centers to put out there, forcing them to play small.
Wisconsin Basketball
Wisconsin has secured a win in six of its past seven games, but its past two games have been a bit odd. The Badgers lost at home to USC and had to overcome an 18-point deficit at the half to beat an undermanned Minnesota team.
The Badgers' offense focuses on outside shooting, attempting 3s on 51% of their shots. They shoot a decent 34% from deep, a number largely boosted by John Blackwell.
Blackwell is the engine for the Badgers. He's the best shooter on the roster, and he gets his shots up. In the loss to USC, Blackwell scored 11 points on 3-of-13 shooting.
He scored 23 on 4-of-13 shooting in the Minnesota game, though. However, he scored just five in the first half and 18 in the second in the game against the Gophers. Is it a coincidence that Minnesota came back? I think not.
Wisconsin will likely look to get the ball inside more to expose the Buckeyes' porous defense.
Nick Boyd is terrific at getting to his left-hand and driving. He leads Wisconsin with 20 points per game on an efficient 48% shooting.
The key will be Nolan Winter, the main reason for Wisconsin's 56% shooting from inside the arc. The seven-footer should have a big game in this matchup. He averages 13.9 points per game, but should probably shoot the ball more with this advantageous matchup.
The Badgers' defense is nothing special, ranking 59th in defensive efficiency. They rank outside the top-115 in 2-point and 3-point field goal defense, but they typically limit teams to just one shot. At least Wisconsin has that on its side due to the inconsistency in stopping teams on field goals.
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Betting Analysis
I just can't trust a short-handed Ohio State team on the road. I know things haven't looked pretty for Wisconsin, but we know the upside here. If Blackwell has a good game and the Badgers shoot it well, Ohio State is in real trouble.
The trend of Ohio State having zero rim-resistance will sting it here. Winter should get Njegovan in foul trouble and then feast on the smaller Buckeyes bigs, who then slide up a position with Tilly out.
Lay the points with the home team.
My Pick: Wisconsin -3.5 (Play to -4.5)
