Rose Bowl 2013: Stanford vs. Wisconsin TV Info, Predictions and More

The 2013 Rose Bowl will feature the Stanford Cardinal, champions of the Pac-12 Conference, facing the Wisconsin Badgers, champions of the B1G Conference. Stanford (11-2) beat UCLA 27-24 in the Pac-12 Championship and is making its 13th appearance in the Rose Bowl. Wisconsin (8-5) embarrassed Nebraska 70-31 in the B1G Championship and is making its third straight Rose Bowl appearance and eighth in school history.

Game-Day Information

Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA (grass, 92,542)

When: January 01, 2013, 4:10 p.m. central

TV: ABC national (likely Brent Musberger play-by-play, Kirk Herbstreit color)

Radio: Cardinal Sports Network, Badger Sports Network radio, WatchESPN.com television

Live Streaming: TuneIn channels for Stanford and Wisconsin

Betting Line: Stanford -6.5, from the Wynn courtesy of Johnny Detroit.

Key Storylines

Both Stanford and Wisconsin had to face rematches to earn an appearance in the Grandaddy of Them All. For Stanford, it had to beat UCLA on the road (ironically enough, in the Rose Bowl), then win again a week later in Palo Alto. The Cardinal did so with an exciting 27-24 win over the Bruins.

Wisconsin avenged its 30-27 defeat in Lincoln in September—and then some—with a 70-31 demolition of Nebraska in the B1G Championship in Indianapolis. The Badgers' evisceration of the Cornhuskers means Wisconsin will be the first five-loss team to compete for the Rose Bowl title. 

Stanford Depth Chart and Injury Report

OFFENSE

WR – Drew Terrell, Kelsey Young OR Kodi Whitfield

LT – David Yankey, Andrus Peat

LG – Khalil Wilkes, David Yankey

C – Sam Schwartzstein, Conor McFadden

RG – Kevin Danser, Joshua Garnett

RT – Cameron Fleming, Kyle Murphy OR Brendon Austin

TE – Levine Toilolo OR Zach Ertz

QB – Kevin Hogan, Josh Nunes, Brett Nottingham

RB – Stepfan Taylor, Anthony Wilkerson OR Ricky Seale OR Remound Wright

FB – Ryan Hewitt, Lee Ward

WR – Jamal-Rashad Patterson OR Ty Montgomery, Jordan Pratt, Devon Cajuste

DEFENSE

DE – Henry Anderson, Josh Mauro

DT – David Parry, Anthony Hayes

DE – Ben Gardner, Aziz Shittu

OLB – Trent Murphy, Kevin Anderson

ILB – A.J. Tarpley, James Vaughters

ILB – Shayne Skov, Jarek Lancaster

OLB – Chase Thomas, Alex Debniak

LCB – Terrence Brown, Wayne Lyons

FS – Ed Reynolds, Devon Carrington

SS – Jordan Richards, Harold Bernard, Zach Hoffpauir

RCB – Alex Carter, Barry Browning

NB – Usua Amanam, Ronnie Harris

SPECIALISTS

PK – Jordan Williamson, Ben Rhyne OR Conrad Ukropina

P – Ben Rhyne

LS – Reed Miller, Jacob Gowan, Torsten Rotto

H – Ben Rhyne

KOR – Remound Wright OR Kelsey Young

PR – Drew Terrell

As of the Pac-12 Championship, original located here 

Wisconsin Depth Chart and Injury Report

OFFENSE

QB – Curt Phillips, Danny O’Brien

RB – Montee Ball, James White

FB – Derek Watt, Sherard Cadogan

WR – Jared Abbrederis, Chase Hammond

WR – Jordan Frederick, Kenzel Doe

TE – Jacob Pedersen, Austin Traylor

TE – Brian Wozniak OR Sam Arneson, Brock DeCicco

LT – Rick Wagner, Tyler Marz

LG – Ryan Groy, Dallas Lewallen

C – Travis Frederick, Dan Voltz

RG – Kyle Costigan, Zac Matthias

RT – Rob Havenstein, Robert Burge

DEFENSE

DE – David Gilbert, Konrad Zagzebski

DT – Beau Allen, Bryce Gilbert

DT – Ethan Herner, Warren Herring

DE – Pat Muldoon OR Brendan Kelly, Tyler Dippel

SLB – Ethan Armstrong, Conor O’Neill

MLB – Chris Borland, Marcus Trotter

WLB – Mike Taylor, Derek Landisch

CB – Marcus Cromarte, Peniel Jean

SS – Shelton Johnson, Michael Caputo

FS – Dezmen Southward, Michael Trotter

CB – Devin Smith, Darius Hillary

SPECIAL TEAMS

P – Drew Meyer, Stephen Salata

K(FG) – Kyle French OR Jack Russell, Stephen Salata

KO – Kyle French, Jack Russell

LS – James McGuire, Connor Udelhoven

H – Drew Meyer, Stephen Salata

PR – Kenzel Doe OR Jared Abbrederis, James White

KR – Kenzel Doe OR Melvin Gordon, James White

As of the B1G Championship, original located here

Stanford Player to Watch: Kevin Hogan

Wisconsin will know that Stanford’s primary weapon is running back Stepfan Taylor and will key its defense to stopping Taylor. It will be up to Hogan, a redshirt freshman who won the job in the middle of the season, to step onto the big stage and direct Stanford’s offense. The Badgers will likely force Hogan to make big plays to win.

Wisconsin Player to Watch: Melvin Gordon

Yes, Montee Ball is back and has more touchdowns than anyone has ever scored in the FBS. Yes, James White is a dangerous runner spelling Ball.

But it was Gordon, a freshman, who really gave Nebraska fits in the B1G title game. He was the game’s leading rusher with 216 yards. On nine carries. Let that sink in.

Stanford, like Wisconsin, is a disciplined and well-coached team that will be prepared to take Wisconsin’s main weapons away. Look for Gordon to make an impact.

Key Matchups: Matt Canada vs. Derek Mason

Canada, Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator, coached circles around Bo Pelini and the Nebraska defensive unit in the B1G title game. Throughout the first half, his play-calling and personnel moves kept Nebraska off balance and out of position, allowing the Badgers to take a 42-10 (!) lead into the locker room.

But Mason, Stanford’s defensive coordinator, has the Cardinal sporting the nation’s 14th-best scoring defense. Of all the matchups in this year’s Rose Bowl, the chess match between these two coordinators will go the farthest in determining a winner.

Stanford Will Win If ...

…Curt Phillips has to win the game for the Badgers. Wisconsin is relying on fifth-year senior Phillips to quarterback after Joel Stave was injured and Danny O’Brien flopped. Phillips is a solid game manager, but he does not have the kind of athletic ability needed to truly challenge a top-level defense. Wisconsin managed to demolish Nebraska with Phillips only throwing eight passes (and, amazingly enough, being only two yards off from being Wisconsin’s leading receiver).

If Phillips is being asked to win the game for Wisconsin, it is likely because Stanford has taken away the Badgers’ rushing attack. The Cardinal would have to like its chances in that matchup.

Wisconsin Will Win If ...

…Stanford gives Wisconsin a little help. Yes, Stanford is a smart and well-disciplined team. But the Cardinal are 31st nationally in turnover margin and 69th nationally in penalties. If Wisconsin can have some success moving the ball and can play a clean game, the Badgers should be able to keep the game close into the fourth quarter and have a chance to sneak out of Pasadena with a trophy.

Prediction

In many ways, Wisconsin and Stanford are mirror images. Both are tough, well-coached and physical football teams. But Stanford has a clear advantage at quarterback and also boasts the nation’s third-ranked rushing defense. Look for the Cardinal to make the Badgers one-dimensional and to do a far better job of stopping Wisconsin’s rushing attack than Nebraska did (although that’s not setting the bar too high). Both teams play basically the same game, but Stanford does it a little better and has a little more firepower to do so.

Fearless Forecast: Stanford 23, Wisconsin 17 

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