The Wisconsin Badgers are going against undefeated and third ranked Texas Christian University in the Rose Bowl on January 1st. This game, in my opinion, will be the most exciting bowl game this season. TCU has not had an opportunity to really prove itself against a quality opponent until now, and Wisconsin gets to show why many people believed that the Badgers should have been in the title game.
These two teams play drastically differently, which should make for an interesting game. TCU has many small and fast players, while Wisconsin is big, strong, and unafraid to hit an opponent in the mouth.
The key to this game for TCU will be to get ahead early, play fast, and score relentlessly. The Badgers have been slow starters this season, but their bruising style of play wears down opponents by the second half and they are big winners by the end. TCU will need to take advantage of their mobile quarterback Andy Dalton, and run away from the Badgers instead of running through them. TCU has had a great defense this year, allowing their opponents to score 11.4 points per game (1st in the FBS), but the offenses they have faced have been suspect and do not begin to compare to Wisconsin's.
If Wisconsin is to win this game, they will need to pound the ball early, controlling the clock and scoring on 10-15 play drives. Star running back John Clay will be ready for this game, so rushes should be divided fairly equally between Clay, Montee Ball, and James White. Quarterback Scott Tolzein, winner of the 2010 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (nations top senior quarterback, beat out Dalton for award), will have to have another effective game, which shouldn't be a problem.
As of today I am definitely leaning towards Wisconsin as the favorites to win this game. Wisconsin is the bigger, stronger, more seasoned team, and I believe that they will not be fazed by TCU's undefeated record. Though I wish that TCU and Boise State (MAACO bowl) would win their bowl games to give the mid-major conferences some more recognition, I just can not see TCU running around this big Wisconsin team all day long.
My prediction as of today: Wisconsin going away, 38-21.
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