Rose Bowl Game: No. 10 Wisconsin vs. No. 5 Oregon - This year's unusual January 2nd date for the Rose Bowl will be remedied by the usual Pac-12-Big-10 matchup, a classic college football tradition that is much needed during a time when both the BBVA Compass Bowl and GoDaddy.com Bowl are played in January. This year's contest will be an clash of classic offenses, as the power running Wisconsin Badgers (11-2) square off against the Oregon Ducks (11-2) and their spread attack. Wisconsin came to Pasadena last year but were upset by TCU and current Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. Redshirt senior transfer Russell Wilson has played fantastic at quarterback for the Badgers, throwing for 2879 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only 3 interceptions en route to leading Wisconsin to the Big-10 title. Wilson has had less pressure this year with the Badgers thanks to star running back Montee Ball and the Badgers running game. Ball, a Heisman finalist, was arguably the most dominant running back in America this year, totaling 1759 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground. Oregon has a star running back of their own: junior LaMichael James. Although he's battled an injured elbow throughout the season, James has still ran for 1646 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2011. Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas has battled the criticism of his throwing ability by stepping up on the field, throwing for 2493 yards and 30 touchdowns while leading the Ducks to the inaugural Pac-12 title. The Ducks have played poorly in the big games over the last three seasons, including a 2010 Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State and a 2011 National Championship loss to Auburn, but I expect the Ducks and this strong Junior class to step up big today. This should be a high scoring game that comes down to the wire with the Ducks coming out on top.
PICK: Oregon
Fiesta Bowl: No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State - The Pac-12 will have another chance to redeem its poor bowl showing thus far when the Pac-12 North runner-up Stanford Cardinal (11-1) face the Big 12 champion Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-1) in Glendale, Arizona. Both squads are one bad game from playing in the national championship and are as deserving as Alabama to be in the national title game. Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor has gone under the radar as one of the best backs in the West, totaling 1153 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns for the Cardinal. Future number 1 pick Andrew Luck has been almost perfect during his career at Stanford and I expect tonight to be the perfect conclusion to his magical run. Luck, who's thrown for 3170 yards and 35 touchdowns, will have his hands full with an athletic Oklahoma State defense that has shut down big passing attacks, such as Oklahoma and Arizona. On offense, the high powered Oklahoma State passing game is led by senior Brandon Weeden, the smart field general who has thrown for 4328 yards and 34 touchdowns this season. Expect Weeden to target two time Biletnikoff Award winner Justin Blackmon frequently tonight, as Blackmon has announced that he will enter the NFL draft despite still having a year of eligibility. Expect a close game throughout and for Luck and the Cardinal to legitimize the Pac-12's year.
PICK: Stanford
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