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Friday, October 3, 2008
Buckeyes will jump around, celebrate win in Wisconsin
After last week’s late meltdown by the Buckeyes, Vinnie down on the corner is on our heels. Time to get healthy.
Ohio State is a 1 1/2-point favorite at Wisconsin on Saturday night, and I smell a rat. That line tells me that Vegas is desperate for bettors to put their hard-earned bucks on the Badgers. (“Oh, those cute little rodents are home underdogs, so it must be a great bet, right?”) A sucker bet, I say.
The line is so small that we really don’t have to give it much thought. It comes down this: Who will win?
Ohio State will win, and snap Wisconsin’s 11-game night win streak. Here’s why:
— The only thing that scares the Buckeyes is a mobile, accurate quarterback. Wisconsin has never been known for great QBs. That means the OSU defense can focus on the run. If the Badgers become one-dimensional, it’s over. If Allan Evridge can’t get it done against Michigan, he’s not going to get it done against OSU.
— The Buckeyes are interested in this game. It’s in prime time against an opponent they know they can beat (I don’t think they were confident at USC). A possible top-10 ranking awaits the winner.
— Jim Tressel is 2-3 against Wisconsin. He’ll be intense, and his team will have his back.
— During the “Jump Around” segment of the show between the third and fourth quarters, all the Ohio State players will be hearing is AC/DC.
LAST WEEK: My advice was to take OSU and lay 18 1/2 points. I thought Minnesota QB Adam Weber was the only thing standing in the way of an easy win, and sure enough Weber threw a last-minute TD pass — on fourth down, of course — to cover the spread in the Buckeyes’ 34-21 win.
OSU had a comfortable 34-6 lead and dominated the game. Then the Buckeyes got charitable. That, folks, is why gambling can give you an ulcer. Unbelievable.
THE SEASON: We’re 2-2 against the spread. OSU is 0-4.
