Two longtime Big Ten rivals will take the court on Saturday afternoon as the Wisconsin Badgers play host to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
These teams are closely matched, so I'm happy to take the Buckeyes and the points in my Ohio State vs. Wisconsin predictions below.
Read on for a closer look at this afternoon matchup in my free college basketball picks for Saturday, January 31.
Ohio State vs Wisconsin prediction
Ohio State vs Wisconsin best bet: Ohio State +4.5 (-110)
Whether you look at their overall resumes, Big Ten conference performance, or just their overall records, there’s little to separate the Ohio State Buckeyes and Wisconsin Badgers right now.
The Badgers have won six of seven, but have only covered in one of their last four games. The Buckeyes have won three of their last four, and have also covered on three occasions in that stretch.
The two squads rate out similarly, both playing better on the offensive end while playing solid enough defense to compete with all but the most elite opponents.
Even the two scoring stars — Bruce Thornton (19.6 ppg) for Ohio State and Nick Boyd (20.0 ppg) for Wisconsin — are nearly equally dangerous, with Boyd offering more explosive scoring bursts while Thornton is the more efficient shooter.
If there’s one place where either side has a clear advantage, it’s in that level of efficiency for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State is shooting an impressive 49.6% from the field, significantly better than Wisconsin (45.0%). The two offenses look relatively equivalent, with both scoring about 82 ppg, but that’s largely because the Badgers play much faster than the Buckeyes.
That’s a small difference, but that efficiency advantage holds on the defensive end too, with Ohio State holding opponents to just 42.4% shooting and 30.1% from 3-point range.
In a game where the two teams otherwise look similar, that’s enough for me to give the Buckeyes a slight edge. Even on the road, I’ll take Ohio State to cover getting a few points.
Ohio State vs Wisconsin same-game parlay
Both the Buckeyes and the Badgers are better offensively than defensively, and both have shown a propensity for high-scoring games, so I’m taking the Over in my SGP this afternoon.
I’ll also take Ohio State guard John Mobley Jr. to hit more than 3.5 threes in this game, something he’s now done in each of his last four outings.
Ohio State vs Wisconsin SGP
- Ohio State +4.5
- Over 155.5
- John Mobley Over 3.5 threes made
Our beyond the arc SGP: Thornton tops rebound total
While Thornton is averaging 5.5 rebounds per game on the season, he has collected seven or more boards in three of his last four games.
Ohio State vs Wisconsin SGP
- Ohio State +4.5
- Over 155.5
- John Mobley Over 3.5 threes made
- Bruce Thornton Over 6.5 rebounds
Ohio State vs Wisconsin odds
- Spread: Ohio State +4.5 | Wisconsin -4.5
- Moneyline: Ohio State +180 | Wisconsin -220
- Over/Under: Over 155.5 | Under 155.5
Ohio State vs Wisconsin betting trend to know
Ohio State is 3-1 ATS in its last four games overall. Find more college basketball betting trends for Ohio State vs. Wisconsin.
How to watch Ohio State vs Wisconsin
| Location | Kohl Center, Madison, WI |
| Date | Saturday, January 31, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FOX |
Ohio State vs Wisconsin key injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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