VS.

The 15th-ranked Miami Hurricanes take on No. 25 Wisconsin Badgers in the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 29, the Badgers’ second straight postseason trip to Orlando. With a young roster and an emerging star quarterback, Miami is already optimistic about next season. First, it wants to end this one on a high note.

8:00 PM ET, December 29, 2009
Florida Citrus Bowl , ORLANDO, FL
ESPN

No.15 Miami Hurricanes with an overall record of 9-3 won four of its last five, closing the year with a 31-10 victory at South Florida on Nov. 28. Now the Hurricanes are looking to secure their first 10-win season since 2003. To get its 10th victory, Miami will have to win its first bowl game since 2006. After a one-year absence from bowl play, the Hurricanes lost 24-17 to California in the Emerald Bowl last year. Much of the Miami’s improvement has been due to Harris, who ranked 15th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 3,164 passing yards. The sophomore had 23 touchdowns, although he also tied for the most interceptions in the nation with 17. Harris won’t have star LT Jason Fox protecting him during this game due to a knee injury that required surgery. Fox started 47 games in his Miami career, third all-time behind William Joseph (50) and Ed Reed (48). Harris could put up big numbers against Wisconsin, which is ranked 66th against the pass at 219.9 yards per game and also could have a versatile ground attack. RB Graig Cooper led the team with 666 rushing yards while RB Damien Berry ran for 587 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns. The key for Miami’s success will be to control Wisconsin’s running game, if they are allow to throw like they have done all year long this could be over really soon for Wisconsin. The players available on offense will be QB Jacory Harris, QB A.J. Highsmith, RB Graig Cooper, RB Damien Berry, WR Leonard Hankerson and WR Travis Benjamin.

No.25 Wisconsin Badgers finished their season with an overall record of 9-3 that was really good but not enough to rank a little higher on the top 25 list. Wisconsin will be the Hurricanes’ first Big Ten opponent since they lost to Ohio State in the BCS title game to end the 2002 season. the Badgers finished strong by winning four of five, beating Hawaii 51-10 in their finale Dec. 5. Wisconsin averaged 39.0 points over its last five games, relying on a bruising ground attack that will provide a contrast in offenses to Miami’s pass-oriented approach. RB John Clay, the Big Ten offensive player of the year, rushed for nine touchdowns over the last five contests and ran for 1,369 yards and 16 TDs on the season. A good fact is that the Badgers ranked 14th in the nation in rushing at 206.7 yards per game so we know already what they are thinking for this game, run the ball as much as possible. Wisconsin is looking to win 10 games for the first time since going 12-1 in 2006. That was also when they won their last bowl game, taking the Capital One Bowl in coach Bret Bielema’s first year. On offense the Badgers will have QB Scott Tolzien, QB Curt Phillips, RB John Clay, RB Montee Ball, WR Nick Toon and TE Garrett Graham.

GAME ODDS

MIAMI FLORIDA -3 -120
WISCONSIN 58

MIAMI AND WISCONSIN BOTH AVERAGED MORE THAN 30 POINTS PER GAME, AND THEIR DEFENSIVE LINES ALSO LOOK PRETTY EVEN SO THIS GAME COULD BE EASILY A VERY CLOSE ONE, NO CLEAR DOMINANCE OF ANY KIND. MY PICK WILL BE WISCONSIN BADGERS +3 EV.

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