2012 Rose Bowl Spread
The Rose Bowl Game will find two very familiar schools in recent history. One played in this game a year ago while the other played for a national title. The other team made this game two years ago but has dominated its conference the last three years.
The Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio will feature Big Ten champion Wisconsin taking on Pac-12 champ Oregon in Pasadena. This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the schools, with Wisconsin owning a 3-1 series lead. However, Oregon won the last meeting in Eugene, 31-28, back in 2001.
Our latest college football odds show Oregon -6 and the total at 72 points.
Wisconsin
The Badgers secured their second straight Rose Bowl appearance by winning the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game with a 42-39 verdict over Michigan State. The Badgers are working on a five-game win streak, which followed two straight losses, which came after a 6-0 start. Wisconsin was 4-2 away from home this year, winning the last three such games.
Wisconsin is one of the few teams to be ranked in the top-10 nationally in both scoring offense and defense.
The Badgers rank fourth nationally in scoring offense (45 points per game) while compiling 467 yards per game (237 rushing, 230 passing). Montee Ball leads the offense by anchoring the running game with 1,759 yards and 32 touchdowns on 6.4 yards per carry, while James White adds 683 yards and six scores on 5.1 yards per attempt.
Russell Wilson has completed 72 percent of his passes for 2,879 yards and 31 TDs with three interceptions. The offensive line has given up 23 sacks. The top pass-catching targets are Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis, who have combined for 106 receptions for 1,636 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Badger defense ranks a strong sixth nationally in points allowed (17 ppg) and allows 293 yards per game (155 passing, 138 rushing) while recording 23 sacks and forcing 24 turnovers – one returned for a TD (Derek Landisch, fumble).
Mike Taylor leads the unit with 137 tackles, while Chris Borland has a team-high four forced fumbles with 131 total tackles. Louis Nzegwu has 4.5 sacks, while Shelton Johnson and Antonio Fenelus each have four interceptions.
Oregon
The Ducks suffered a season-opening loss to LSU, then won nine straight before a home loss to USC, then finished with 98 points scored in wins over Oregon State and UCLA to take a third straight Pac-10/12 title. The Ducks were 4-1 away from home this year, winning the last four such games.
The Ducks rank third nationally in scoring offense (46 ppg) while compiling 515 yards per game (296 rushing, 219 passing). LaMichael James anchors this run game with 1,646 yards and 17 TDs on 7.4 yards per carry, while Kenjon Barner has 909 yards and 11 touchdowns on 6.3 yards per attempt.
Darron Thomas completes 61 percent of his passes for 2,493 yards and 30 TDs with six picks. The offensive line has allowed 12 sacks. De’Anthony Thomas is the top receiving threat with 42 receptions for 571 yards and nine TDs, while Lavasier Tuinei has 40 catches for 441 yards and eight scores.
Defensively, the Ducks rank 48th in the nation in scoring defense (24 ppg) and gives up 381 yards per game (244 passing, 137 rushing) while compiling 43 sacks and forcing 27 turnovers – three of which were returned for TDs (Boseko Lokombo and Michael Clay, three interceptions).
John Boyett leads the defensive unit with 91 tackles and two blocked kicks, while Clay has 89 stops and a team-best two forced fumbles. Dion Jordan has 7.5 sacks, Eddie Pleasant has three interceptions and Brandon Hanna has three fumble recoveries.
