The Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, Wisconsin. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Ohio State is favored by -26 points on the spread with a moneyline of -400. The total is set at 41 points.
Here’s my Ohio State vs. Wisconsin prediction and college football picks for Saturday, October 18, 2025.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs Wisconsin Badgers Prediction, Picks
- Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Pick: Ohio State 1H -13.5
My Wisconsin vs. Ohio State best bet is on the Buckeyes to cover the first-half spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Ohio State vs Wisconsin Odds, Spread, Lines
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-25.5 -105 | 41.5 -105o / -115u | -5000 |
| Wisconsin Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+25.5 -115 | 41.5 -105o / -115u | +1500 |
Ohio State vs Wisconsin College Football Betting Preview
Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview
Things haven't looked very difficult for Ohio State this season, as its defense has climbed to the top of the country. Its 34-16 win over Illinois is about as close as things have gotten this year.
The Buckeyes allowed their first red zone touchdown of the season (it took teams 11 tries!) and, at one point, the Illini had the ball with a chance to tie things up.
But the story for each game has been that Ohio State can out-talent almost any opponent, both on offense and defense.
Quarterback Julian Sayin has been outstanding, leading the country in completion rate (78.4%, min. 70 attempts) and PFF's passing grades. It helps to have an all-star cast of receivers with first-round NFL talent like Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, plus one of the country's best offensive lines.
Running back Bo Jackson looks like a future star and West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson has been a valuable veteran piece.
But it really has been the defense leading the way.
Known commodities like Caleb Downs and Davison Igbinosun have performed up to expectations, leading Ohio State to a top-10 passing defense. There are new studs in town, namely linebacker Arvell Reese and defensive end Caden Curry, both of whom project to be high NFL draft picks.
There's no obvious weakness on defense. It takes a truly mobile quarterback with elite poise and playmaking to put a dent in the stop unit.
Illinois' Luke Altmyer showed some of the cracks against a vanilla Ohio State defense, picking up chunk yards through the air when he escaped the pocket. Altmyer was also sacked four times, though.
There are no obvious losses left on the schedule, and Ohio State will be favored big in each remaining game. Of course, this season all hinges in The Game at Michigan to close the campaign.
Wisconsin Badgers Betting Preview
For decades, Camp Randall Stadium has been one of college football's best home environments and Wisconsin, one of America's best college game days. But as the Badgers fall to 2-4 on the season and 7-11 since the start of 2024, Camp Randall is seeing something it rarely has before: empty seats.
Luke Fickell is officially on dismissal watch, and any week could be the final game of his era as Badgers head coach.
Wisconsin historically is one of college football's most patient fan bases, but that patience has run thin. Calls for a new head coach have never been louder – especially within the walls of Camp Randall Stadium itself.
Not only have the losses been stacking, but they've become increasingly uncompetitive. That culminated in a 37-0 loss to rival Iowa last week.
It was the worst Badgers loss to the Hawkeyes since 1968, the worst loss in Madison and the third-most lopsided game since 1900 either way. That 37-0 blowout follows a 42-10 one in Iowa City last year.
Now, Wisconsin hosts the nation's No. 1 team. Tickets to the game are dirt cheap – likely the least expensive ticket to see the Buckeyes play in the entire country. And that's a problem. The crowd for this game could be thin and Buckeye-dominated from the get-go.
Two quarterbacks have started for the Badgers since Maryland transfer Billy Edwards Jr. went down with an injury in Week 3. San Diego State transfer Danny O'Neil was benched in favor of freshman Hunter Simmons ahead of the Michigan game.
In the last two weeks, Simmons went a combined 26-for-50 with no touchdowns and an interception. The receiving corps is terrible, and the run game is below average.
The defense holds up fine, but when the offense only gains 34% of available yards (126th!), it can only do so much.
Until foundational changes are made, Wisconsin won't win a game. Its remaining schedule includes Ohio State (home), Oregon (away), Washington (home), Indiana (away), Illinois (home) and Minnesota (away) – teams that currently combine for a 31-6 record on the season.
Ohio State vs Wisconsin NCAAF Week 8 Pick to Bet
Ohio State opened a -26.5 favorite and Wisconsin took some action, nudging that number down to -25.5. What may stand out to the keen eye is Wisconsin's projected points, which land at just 7.5 (juiced heavily to the under).
The Buckeyes head on bye next week, having made the few adjustments needed for the final stretch of the season.
Up until this point, we haven't seen very much from either side. It's been a vanilla game plan on both offense and defense because Ohio State has been able to manage its competition with relative ease.
So, with a coach's job on the line — a coach that's both a graduate of Ohio State and a brief interim there — we'll probably see more of the same vanilla play.
Ryan Day isn't likely to run the score up on Fickell this week, though that term is relative, as many factors could play into a game that's well out of hand by halftime.
Rather than risk taking the foot off the accelerator in the second half, as well as risk taking the points with a bad team, I'm looking to the first-half spread. The number fluctuates between Ohio State -14.5 (juiced under) and -13.5 (juiced over); I'm taking the latter.
Vanilla game plan or not, the Buckeyes are an infinitely superior team. Camp Randall won't bring the same intense atmosphere as usual. It'll likely give way to touring Buckeyes who want a cheap ticket to see their team on the road in a historic college football venue.
Sayin is looking like one of the best and most poised passers in the country, while the run game is coming into its own with a few different pieces.
This is a quiet first-half Buckeye blowout, akin to the Minnesota result two weeks ago.
Pick: Ohio State -13.5 1H
Where To Watch Ohio State vs Wisconsin Live
- Time: 3:30 p.m ET
- TV Channel: CBS
- Location: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
