2012 Rose Bowl Game Presented by Vizio
Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California
#10 Wisconsin Badgers vs #5 Oregon Ducks
Monday, January 2, 2011, 5:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Oregon -4 1/2
Current Line: Oregon -5
Opening Total: 72
Current Total: 72
Opening Money Line: Oregon -240 / Wisconsin +200
Current Money Line: Oregon -220 / Wisconsin +180
The #10 11-2 Wisconsin Badgers, champions of the Big Ten are playing in their second straight Rose Bowl. The Badgers will take on the #5 11-2 Oregon Ducks, champion of the Pac 12 in the first BCS game of the season. This is one of only 4 bowl games that match-up two conference champions, along with the Poinsettia, Orange, and Godaddy.com Bowls.
Wisconsin is coached by Bret Bielema. The Badgers have two losses in back to back weeks on the road. The Badgers lost at Michigan St 37-31 and at Ohio St 33-29. Both were on Hail Mary touchdown passes with less than a minute to go. Since then Wisconsin has won 5 straight games, including 42-39 in the rematch against Michigan St in the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis. Wisconsin has additional wins over UNLV, Oregon St, Northern Illinois, Nebraska, Indiana, Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois, and Penn St. The Badgers are 11-11 in 22 prior bowl games. The Badgers have lost 3 of their last 4 bowl games including 21-19 last year in the Rose Bowl to TCU.
Oregon is coached by Chip Kelly. The Ducks are playing in a third straight BCS game, but have lost both games to Ohio St in the 2010 Rose Bowl, and to Auburn 22-19 in the BCS Championship game last season. This year Oregon has losses to #1 LSU 40-27 in Arlington, Texas and at home to USC 38-35. The Ducks have wins over Nevada, Arizona, Cal, Arizona St, Colorado, Washington St, Washington, Stanford, Oregon St, and UCLA 49-31 in the Pac 12 Championship game. Oregon is 9-15 overall in bowl games. This is the fifth ever meeting between Oregon and Wisconsin. The Badgers lead the series 3-1 but the two teams haven’t played since 2001.
Wisconsin averages 466.9 yards a game including 237.4 rushing yards a game. The Badgers score 44.6 points a game. They are ranked in the top 14 nationally in all three categories. Wisconsin passes for 229.5 yards a game. The Badgers have 8 turnovers and have allowed 23 sacks this season. Wisconsin is 92/166 on third and fourth down conversions, and 67/70 scoring in the red zone with 61 touchdowns. Wisconsin gives up 293 yards a game and 17 points a game. The Badgers allow 155 passing yards a game. Wisconsin is in the top 8 nationally in all three categories. The Badgers give up 138 rushing yards a game. Wisconsin has forced 23 turnovers and 23 sacks this year. Badger opponents are 78/200 on third and fourth downs conversions, and 23/28 scoring in the red zone with 16 touchdowns. The Badgers have a punt return and a fumble return for touchdowns this year.
Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson transferred from North Carolina St. He had already graduated, and had one more year of eligibility. Wilson is 206/284 passing (72.5% completion) for 2,879 yards, with 31 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, plus 73 carries, 320 yards, and 5 touchdowns. He even has a touchdown catch from running back Montee Ball. The Heisman trophy finalist Ball has 275 carries, with 1,759 yards, with 32 touchdowns, along with 20 catches, 255 yards, with 6 touchdowns. James White has 133 carries, 683 yards, and 6 touchdowns, and 15 catches for 150 yards. Receiver Nick Toon has 55 catches, 822 yards, and 9 touchdowns. Abbrederis has 51 catches, 814 yards, and 7 touchdowns. Abbrederis has over 1,600 all-purpose yards and a punt return for a touchdown. Jacob Pedersen has 29 catches, 339 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Kickers Philip Welch and Kyle French have split the kicking duties this season. Welch is 49/50 on extra points, and 4/5 on field goals with a long of 52 yards. French is 26/27 on extra points and 3/5 on field goals with a long of 29 yards. The Badgers have 9 players listed as questionable or out including 3 defensive players and 3 offensive linemen.
Oregon is averaging 515.2 total yards, including 295.7 rushing yards and is scoring 46.2 points a game. All three are in the top 5 nationally. Oregon averages 219.5 passing yards a game. The Ducks have allowed 12 sacks and have 18 turnovers this season. Oregon is 89/200 on third and fourth down conversions, and 54/63 scoring in the red zone with 48 touchdowns. The Ducks are giving up 382.2 yards and 23.6 points a game. They have given up 137.5 rushing yards and 244.7 passing yards a game. The Ducks have forced 43 sacks and 27 turnovers. Oregon opponents are 88/232 on third and fourth down conversions, and 38/47 scoring in the red zone with 28 touchdowns. Oregon has 7 defensive/special teams touchdowns and has 4 blocked kicks. The Ducks average 7 penalties a game for 66 yards a game.
Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas is 194/316 passing (61.4% completion) with 2,493 yards, 30 touchdowns and 6 interceptions this season, along with 50 carries for 205 yards and 3 touchdown runs. Back-up Bryan Bennett is 24/45 passing for 361 yards and 6 touchdown passes, along with 23 carries for 200 yards. Running back LaMichael James has 222 carries for 1,646 yards, and 17 touchdowns along with 17 catches, 210 yards, and a touchdown catch. James has over 2,000 all-purpose yards and has a punt return for a touchdown. Kenjon Barner has 145 carries, 909 yards, and 11 touchdowns, along with 15 catches for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back De’Anthony Thomas has 53 carries, 440 yards, and 5 rushing touchdown to go along with 42 catches, 571 yards, and 9 scores. He also has over 1,900 all-purpose yards, and has 2 kickoff returns for touchdowns. He is questionable with for an undisclosed reason. Receiver Lavasier Tuinei has 42 catches, 571 yards, and 9 scores. David Paulson has 30 catches, 428 yards, and 6 touchdowns. Josh Huff has 29 catches, 416 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Colt Lyerla has 7 catches, 145 yards, and 5 scores. Kicker Alejandro Maldonado is 71/72 on extra points and is 6/11 on field goals with a long of 40 yards. Rob Beard is 2/2 on field goals with a long of 30 yards and has also kicked 3 extra points this season. Oregon has 11 players listed on the injury report including 5 defensive players and 4 reserve receivers.
Oregon is 6-5-2 against the spread and the total is 9-4 this season. Wisconsin is 7-5-1 ATS and the total is 9-4 this season. The Badgers are 3-0-1 ATS in non-conference games, 4-0 as an underdog, and as an underdog of between 3.5 and 10 points, 6-1 in bowl games as underdog of the same spread, 4-1 in January, 14-5-1 overall, 5-2 in bowl games, as a bowl underdog, 1-4 after a straight up win, and against teams with winning records, and 0-4 after scoring 40 points or more. The Ducks are 4-0-1 ATS after failing to cover, 4-1 on grass, 3-1-1 against teams with winning records, 2-5 in neutral site games, 1-3-1 as a favorite, 1-4 as a neutral site favorite, as a bowl favorite, and against the Big Ten.
These are two of the most prolific rushing offenses in the country, but they have different styles. Wisconsin relies on a power running game and Oregon uses their speed and quickness. Wisconsin must control the clock because if they try to get into a track meet with the incredibly speedy Ducks they will get beaten badly. Statistically, Wisconsin has one of the best defenses in the country, but they are vulnerable against the run. Michigan St and Ohio St were able to gouge the Badgers for an average of 36 points in three games, and neither of those teams are as proficient on offense as Oregon.
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