Badgers vs. Ducks NCAA Football – 2012 Rose Bowl Odds
This is a match-up between two teams that have not met each other since the year 2001. The difference is that this time they meet in what many consider to be the Granddaddy of all Bowl Game–the 98th Edition of the Tournament of Roses.
Bowl Game Title : Rose Bowl
Wisconsin (11-2) v Oregon (11-2)
Date: 5:00 PM ET, Monday, January 2, 2012
Venue: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN3
Betting Lines: from Bovada.lv:
Money Line: OFF
Spread: +6 Wisconsin
Over/Under: 72
Both teams are very similar in the way they play on the offensive side of the ball, relying primarily on the ground game to spring their offensive assault. Each quarterback has gaudy touchdown totals, but it is the men that line up behind them that make the team go.
Another thing these two teams have in common is that they were both just a couple of plays away from a meeting with Louisiana State in the BCS Championship Game. For Wisconsin they lost two consecutive games on a fluke last minute, or in one case last second, touchdown pass. The results were their only two losses of the season.
Meanwhile, the Ducks also lost just two games during the 2011 campaign. The first loss came at the hands of Louisiana State in the season opener, and the second came by way of PAC-12 rival USC, in a game where Oregon was unable to cap off a comeback with a field goal that would have sent the game into overtime.
This is going to be a hard fought game and of the Badgers are going to pull off the upset here they are going to have to step up their rushing defense. Wisconsin was in the top 25 in the country in terms of points allowed per game this season. So. I think it is a safe bet that they will not hold Oregon to just 17 points in this game. However, if they are able to limit the Ducks offense at all, it will go a long way in them covering the six points given to them. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Wisconsin is going to score, make no mistake about it. Very few teams have what it takes to go point for point with this Oregon team though, so if they want this game to go well, they have to find a way to slow down LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner.
As for Oregon, for them to cover the six points here they just need to do what got them here. Take what the defense gives them. In this case, the Wisky defense will likely concede more passing lanes than the Badgers usually do, in an effort to stop the Oregon tailbacks. So quarterback Darron Thomas will need to be prepared to mix it up with a few effective passes. Especially on critical third down situations.
Defensively, if the Ducks are able to play their brand of “bend, but don’t break” D that they have employed all season long, they should be able to fend off a hungry Wisconsin squad.
This game will likely be a shootout of epic proportions. The question is whether or not Wisconsin will be able to play their tough nosed defense against an Oregon team that likes to spread out the field as much as they do.
Although my heart is with Oregon, I like the upset here personally, and if that comes to fruition the game will inevitably fall short of the 72 point total.
Matt’s Prediction: Wisconsin 34, Oregon 31
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