Wisconsinvs
Tennessee
11 a.m. Tampa, Fla. ESPN
In the Outback bowl for the second straight year, the Tennessee Volunteers try not to lose a second straight Outback Bowl, or a third straight bowl loss to a Big 10 team when they take the field early Tuesday morning. Many overlooked the SEC's two losses in bowl games versus Big 10 opponents last year after Florida smoked Ohio State. Tennessee lost to Penn State last year, and will try and not have the same fate against the Badgers.
Wisconsin came into the year ranked in the top 5. Coming off a 2006 season that only had one blemish, a loss at Michigan, the Badgers were poised to make a run at the Big 10 title. The schedule was set-up to get off to a great start before finishing with the meat of Michigan and Ohio State. The year started off with a number of close calls before Illinois was able to finally get to unbeaten Wisconsin. The Badgers lost again the next week to Penn State before winning four of their final five (the only loss being in the Horseshoe against the top ranked Buckeyes of Ohio State).
Wisconsin is looking for their third straight victory over an SEC team in a bowl game. They will try and get RB P.J. Hill rolling early as this should be the healthiest he has been since the beginning of the season. QB Tyler Donovan and TE Travis Beckum are also finally healthy again which certainly bodes well for the Badger offense. Hill is listed as probable for the game with the deep thigh bruise that kept him out of the Ohio State and Minnesota games, but look for him to play if at all possible. He won't have to do it alone as speedster Zach Brown took over for Hill earlier in the season and will be ready if needed. Wisconsin will have to be able to run the ball to win this one.
On the other side are the surprising Tennessee Volunteers. Everyone expected either defending SEC and National Champion Florida to represent the East in the SEC Championship Game. If not them, then surely it would be the Georgia Bulldogs, who will represent the SEC in the Sugar Bowl, will be the ones who won the East. Neither was correct as Tennessee survived getting absolutely demolished by Florida early in the season to turn around and beat Georgia much the same way. Tennessee will try and stop the Wisconsin rushing game with Jerod Mayo, a tackling machine. Stud saftey Jonathan Hefney will be keeping an eye on Beckum over the middle, but also will do his part in stopping the running game of the Badgers.
If Erik Ainge can get the passing game going Tennessee will have a chance. They'll be able to slow down the Wisconsin offense. If the Vols can keep Ainge upright he makes much better choices. As LSU showed in the SECCG, sometimes just getting pressure can force Ainge into bad decisions, even without getting to him. Tennessee needs to do all the can to give him time and he'll score some points. With that said, never go against a streak. Wisconsin in a close one.
Line: Tennessee -1.5, Total 57.5
Wisconsin came into the year ranked in the top 5. Coming off a 2006 season that only had one blemish, a loss at Michigan, the Badgers were poised to make a run at the Big 10 title. The schedule was set-up to get off to a great start before finishing with the meat of Michigan and Ohio State. The year started off with a number of close calls before Illinois was able to finally get to unbeaten Wisconsin. The Badgers lost again the next week to Penn State before winning four of their final five (the only loss being in the Horseshoe against the top ranked Buckeyes of Ohio State).
Wisconsin is looking for their third straight victory over an SEC team in a bowl game. They will try and get RB P.J. Hill rolling early as this should be the healthiest he has been since the beginning of the season. QB Tyler Donovan and TE Travis Beckum are also finally healthy again which certainly bodes well for the Badger offense. Hill is listed as probable for the game with the deep thigh bruise that kept him out of the Ohio State and Minnesota games, but look for him to play if at all possible. He won't have to do it alone as speedster Zach Brown took over for Hill earlier in the season and will be ready if needed. Wisconsin will have to be able to run the ball to win this one.
On the other side are the surprising Tennessee Volunteers. Everyone expected either defending SEC and National Champion Florida to represent the East in the SEC Championship Game. If not them, then surely it would be the Georgia Bulldogs, who will represent the SEC in the Sugar Bowl, will be the ones who won the East. Neither was correct as Tennessee survived getting absolutely demolished by Florida early in the season to turn around and beat Georgia much the same way. Tennessee will try and stop the Wisconsin rushing game with Jerod Mayo, a tackling machine. Stud saftey Jonathan Hefney will be keeping an eye on Beckum over the middle, but also will do his part in stopping the running game of the Badgers.
If Erik Ainge can get the passing game going Tennessee will have a chance. They'll be able to slow down the Wisconsin offense. If the Vols can keep Ainge upright he makes much better choices. As LSU showed in the SECCG, sometimes just getting pressure can force Ainge into bad decisions, even without getting to him. Tennessee needs to do all the can to give him time and he'll score some points. With that said, never go against a streak. Wisconsin in a close one.
Line: Tennessee -1.5, Total 57.5
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