It seems as though with the BCS Championship game projected to be a defensive battle between the top two teams in the nation, the BCS has done everything in its power to make sure that its other BCS bowl games feature a ton of offense, as they have done with the Rose Bowl Game Presented By Vizio. The No. 5 Oregon Ducks and No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers rank third and fourth in the nation respectively in scoring offense, and it should be another high-scoring affair when the two programs clash on the national stage.Rose Bowl Game Presented By Vizio
(10) Wisconsin Badgers @ (5) Oregon Ducks
Monday January 2, 2012 – 5:00 PM ET
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
College Football Betting Odds: Oregon Ducks – 6.5
The Ducks will be sound sports betting favorites for this game, even though Wisconsin has won five straight including the Big Ten Championship game. Oregon will bring back several of the big name stars that fought in the BCS Championship game a year ago, while the Badgers introduce a couple of new stars, including Heisman trophy candidate Montee Ball.
College Football Betting Preview: Wisconsin
Ball was the third runner-up in the Heisman voting simply because he started out late in one of the most stacked classes to ever compete for the award, but the job he did leading the nation’s fourth-ranked offense cannot be overlooked. Ball averaged 6.4 yards per carry to reach 1,759 yards on the ground with an unbelievable 32 touchdowns, proving that he could become a superstar with his will and determination after shedding weight in the offseason to become lighter on his feet. Senior quarterback Russell Wilson showed incredible improvement with the emergence of Ball, and with a defense that ranked 6th in the country in points against, the Badgers became one of the most complete NCAA football teams in the country.
College Football Betting Preview: Oregon
That defense will be tested by a powerful Oregon offense, which returns to bowl season with Darron Thomas under center and LaMichael James at running back. Thomas threw for 2,493 yards and 30 touchdowns, while James rushed for an average of 7.4 per carry, with 17 scores on the ground as those two players combined to once again form one of the most dangerous backfields in the game. The Ducks ranked fifth in rushing yards, and as they proved against Stanford’s front-seven, are a load to handle at the line of scrimmage. Oregon’s defense struggled in losses to LSU and USC this season, and will need to tighten things up front to give the Ducks’ offense a chance to win this game as the favorites according to the pay head bookies.
College Football Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick
There is expected to be a ton of fireworks when these two teams meet in Pasadena, and rightfully so given the strength of the respective offenses. However, if there is one difference in the makeup of these teams, it will be the Badgers’ ability to slow down Oregon up front, and whether or not the Ducks will be able to contain Ball in the ground game.
College Football Betting Pick: Wisconsin + 6.5
