BCS Bowl Predictions: Oregon Would Crush Wisconsin in Rose Bowl Showdown

If Oregon and Wisconsin were to meet in the 2011 Rose Bowl, which isn’t completely a done deal, Oregon would crush the Badgers in convincing fashion.

They’re too fast. Wisconsin has yet to see a team as fast and athletic as Oregon, and it would catch them completely by surprise.

Big 10 football rarely wins the big bowl games. We see it year after year, and 2011 will be the same way.

Aside from Ohio State’s victories in the past two seasons, the Big 10 fails in the big moments. Penn State lost to USC in the 2008 Rose Bowl. Ohio State lost in 2006 and 2007 to Florida and LSU in the BCS title game.

What generally comes out of each Big 10 loss is lack of speed and talent at skill positions. Oregon would dominate the Badgers with their fifth-ranked rushing attack by using their unbelievable team speed and high-octane style of offense. Wisconsin wouldn’t know how to slow it down.

Oregon isn’t as well-rounded of a team as a year ago when they nearly defeated Auburn to win the national championship, but they still have Darron Thomas, LaMichael James and several other multifaceted athletes that are capable of doing work on opposing defenses.

Wisconsin gave up 37 points to Michigan State in their loss earlier in the season. The Spartans have the 46th-best passing attack and 78th-best rushing attack yet they were still able to put up close to 40 points.

In their other loss to Ohio State, Wisconsin gave up 268 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. The Buckeyes are only 28th in college football in rushing at 195 yards per game. Oregon averages 291 yards rushing per game.

Oregon would be able to score more than 30 points because of their explosive offensive attack. Wisconsin’s offense is good, but I can’t see them being able to keep up with the Ducks. It wouldn’t be an ideal game for Wisconsin.

Prediction: Oregon 34 Wisconsin 20