Rose Bowl 2012: Oregon Will Only Confirm How Bad the Big Ten Is This Season

As the winners of the inaugural Big Ten championship game, the present for the Wisconsin Badgers is a date with the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.

After Wisconsin's disappointing Rose Bowl showing last season (and for Big Ten in bowl games altogether), a lot is on the line in this one—not only for Wisconsin, but for the entire conference. 

The problem is, Oregon will have no trouble exposing Wisconsin and the entire Big Ten conference in the process. 

The game will pit two of the top teams in the country, but the matchup does not bode well for Wisconsin. 

Oregon is one of the best offensive teams in the country, and the Wisconsin defense has been suspect against talented teams. 

While they rank No. 6 in points allowed at only 17 per game, the Badgers have feasted on weak teams to boost those defensive statistics.

A weak out-of-conference schedule helped those statistics.

Against the better teams on the schedule, the Badgers' defense struggled—and that does not bode well for the Rose Bowl against Oregon.

Wisconsin gave up 37 and 39 points to Michigan State, along with 33 to Ohio State, while having their way with the weaker teams in the Big Ten.

The Oregon defense is certainly not as good as some that the Badgers have faced, and Wisconsin will likely put some points on the board as well, but slowing down the Oregon offense will be the major challenge. 

The Big Ten has had a few down seasons, and will rely heavily on Wisconsin to help the save some face in one of the conference's biggest bowl games.

The problem is, the Badgers just do not have the firepower to hang with a team like Oregon.

The speed and quickness of the Ducks will be too much for the size and power of the Badgers.

On January 2, 2012, Oregon will not only expose Wisconsin, but the Big Ten in the process.