Rose Bowl 2012: Who Will Shine Brightest, LaMichael James or Montee Ball?

The 2012 Rose Bowl features two of college football's premier running backs, LaMichael James of Oregon and Montee Ball of Wisconsin.

Both players are pivotal for their respective teams and they face defenses that stack up similarly against the run.

James hasn't gotten a whole lot of credit this season despite having a better year than 2010, when he was a Heisman Trophy finalist. A lot of that has to do with Oregon not making it to the BCS Championship Game this season and some players emerging in the Heisman discussion, including Ball.

But make no mistake about it; James is a nightmare for defenses when he touches the ball.

After averaging 5.9 yards per carry last season, James is averaging 7.4 yards per carry this season, and he was a big part of Oregon's upset of Stanford on Nov. 12, when he rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns.

He faces a Wisconsin defense giving up 3.9 yards per carry this season.

Of course we all know about Ball, who's been sensational this year. Ball has rushed for 1,759 yards and 32 touchdowns this season, while adding 255 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. He's coming off a 137-yard, four-touchdown performance against Michigan State, who have allowed just 2.9 yards per carry in 2011.

Ball faces an Oregon defense allowing just 3.6 yards per carry.

In the end, I think Ball will have a better game, but it's not necessarily based on who's the better running back. I think it's going to come down to Wisconsin's big offensive line versus Oregon's defense. The size differential here is fairly substantial and the big bodies on the line for Wisconsin are certainly part of Ball's spectacular campaign.

Both Ball and James should have big games on Jan. 2 in Pasadena, but I'm giving the edge to Ball.