BADGERS HEADED TO ROSE BOWL
Monday, December 6th, 2010 -- 9:03 AM
The fourth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers get to play in the Big Ten's marquee game against undefeated No. 3 TCU in the Rose Bowl on January 1st. Wisconsin (11-1) will play in a program-record ninth straight bowl game on Jan. 1 and get to face the only perfect team that isn't in the BCS title game. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema says the three losses last season helped propel the Badgers through a loss at Michigan State in the opening game of Big Ten play. Since then, the Badgers have won seven straight to make their seventh Rose Bowl appearance in school history.The game features two high-powered offenses as Wisconsin and TCU both average 43.3 points per game, tied for fourth-best in the country. Each team averages more than 450.0 yards of total offense per game, including more than 240.0 yards on the ground. Both teams' quarterbacks, seniors Scott Tolzien and Andy Dalton, rank among the top five in the country in pass efficiency.
On the other side of the ball, the Horned Frogs are No. 1 in the country in scoring defense, total defense pass defense and pass efficiency defense, while ranking No. 3 in rush defense. Wisconsin ranks among the top 30 in the country total defense, scoring defense, pass defense and rush defense. The Badgers had a +15 turnover margin in Big Ten play and are tied for third in the country in that category.
This will be the second time in history that Wisconsin and TCU have played. The only other meeting came in the 1970 home opener at Camp Randall Stadium, on Sept. 26, and ended in a 14-14 tie.
Wisconsin has a 3-3 all-time record in the Rose Bowl. The Badgers have been victorious in their last three trips to Pasadena (1994, 1999 and 2000). Since 1994, UW's three Rose Bowl wins are second only to USC (5).
The 2011 Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio will be televised by ESPN with Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Erin Andrews handling the commentary.
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