The Wisconsin Badgers came to the Rose Bowl last year and were beaten by the TCU Horned Frogs. The Oregon Ducks played in the BCS National Championship Game and were beaten by the Auburn Tigers. Both have some unfinished business that they would like to tend to when they square off against one another in Rose Bowl betting action on January 2nd.
The Badgers and Ducks both survived their respective first ever conference championship games to reach this point. Both teams are ranked in the Top 10, and the winner of this one will finish in the Top 5 in the country for sure. However, with two losses apiece, both have to be disappointed with the way that the season ultimately went.
If you like offense, this is the bowl game that you are going to want to watch. The Badgers averaged 44.6 points per game this year thanks to the rushing of Heisman Trophy finalist, RB Montee Ball and the passing of QB Russell Wilson. Wilson transferred from NC State just before the start of the season, and he promptly went on to throw for 31 TDs against three picks complete 72.5 percent of his passes.
The ground game was truly insane for Wisconsin, though. Last year, Ball, RB James White, and RB John Clay all rushed for at least 900 yards and had double digits worth of touchdowns. This year, the argument could be made that it is more out of this world. Ball rushed for 1,759 yards and 32 TDs (and had six scores as a receiver), White had 683 yards and six TDs, and Wilson had 320 yards and five TDs. Add in the fact that two receivers, Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis both had at least 800 receiving yards and a total of 16 TDs.
It's not like Oregon's offense is exactly slacking. RB LaMichael James averaged the most yards per game on the ground of any back in the nation, and he was probably hosed out of being a Heisman finalist after rushing for 1,646 yards and 17 TDs. RB Kenjon Barner had 909 yards and 11 trips to the end zone as well.
Oregon wasn't without its weaknesses though, as its defense, just like Wisconsin's, had the ability to allow some points. The defense was why both of these teams were beaten twice on the year, and it will almost certainly be deficiency on this side of the ball that hands this team a third loss in the Rose Bowl.
The Rose Bowl odds feature the Ducks as six point favorites and a relatively lofty 'total' of 72 at 5Dimes Sportsbook.
