Rose Bowl 2012: Latest Rose Bowl News, Updates, Predictions

In three weeks, the 10th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers will try to avenge last year’s Rose Bowl loss to TCU when they return to Pasadena to play Pac-12 champion Oregon.

By and large, experts and fans across the country feel like the Badgers versus the Ducks will be one this season’s best bowl games.

Here is the latest news on the Granddaddy of Them All. 

Wisconsin Update

Now that Montee Ball's trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation is over, the Badgers can focus solely on the Rose Bowl.

After playing in Pasadena just a season ago, a New Year's trip to California is nothing new for Wisconsin. 

The Badgers are relatively healthy, and the squad that beat Michigan State in the inaugural Big Ten title game is still intact. 

At this point, the only distraction is whether or not offensive coordinator Paul Chryst will finally leave the program for a head coaching gig of his own. 

Oregon Update

Unfortunately for Oregon, the Ducks' already suspect pass defense is going to be without star cornerback Cliff Harris at the Rose Bowl. 

Harris was dismissed from the team shortly after the season for continually violating team rules.

Russell Wilson and the Wisconsin receiving corps have to be licking their chops. 

The Hype

Bloggers, writers, TV pundits and publications nationwide agree by and large that the Rose Bowl is one of this year's best postseason matchups. 

Almost every bowl rankings piece has the Wisconsin-Oregon clash behind only Alabama-LSU and Oklahoma State-Stanford. 

If this game lives up to the hype, expect an instant classic. 

Vegas, Baby

After opening up as a 4.5-point favorite, the Oregon Ducks have moved to a six-point favorite over the Badgers.

Chalk it up to the perception that the Wisconsin defense will struggle to defend Oregon's Pac-12 speed.  

Updated Prediction

The Big Ten versus Pac-12 speed argument is overblown. 

With Cliff Harris no longer lining up in the Oregon secondary, Russell Wilson and the Wisconsin passing attack will complement the Badgers' stellar rushing offense nicely.

Wisconsin wins, 38-31.