No. 7 Oregon (11-2) and No. 11 Wisconsin (10-3) meet in the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
The Ducks won the Pac-12 championship after a 37-15 victory against Utah. Quarterback Justin Herbert can improve his NFL Draft stock with a big performance here, and coach Mario Cristobal can continue to push the Ducks back toward a College Football Playoff berth heading into 2020. This is a program back on the rise.
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Wisconsin remains the model of stability in the Big Ten West, and they earned the Rose Bowl bid after a 34-21 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. Star running back Jonathan Taylor needs 91 rushing yards to complete his second straight 2,000-yard season.
“The Granddaddy of Them All” should be a showcase for both schools. Here’s everything to know about betting on Oregon vs. Wisconsin, including updated odds, trends and our prediction for the Rose Bowl Game.
Oregon vs. Wisconsin odds for Rose Bowl 2020
Spread: Wisconsin -3
Point total: 51
Moneyline: Wisconsin -145, Oregon +110
Wisconsin is a three-point favorite according to Sports Insider. The line opened at -3 in favor of the Badgers.
Oregon vs. Wisconsin all-time series
The Ducks and Badgers have met five times since 1977, and Oregon won the last meeting between the teams in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, 2012. That was a shootout that features Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson and Montee Ball and Oregon’s LaMichael James and DeAnthony Thomas. The Ducks won 45-38.
Three trends to know
— The Badgers are 3-1 against the spread in bowl games under Paul Chryst, but they are 4-4 against the spread in neutral-site games.
— Wisconsin was 4-1 against the spread this season and 5-0 straight up when favored by 10 points or fewer.
— The Ducks are 3-4 against the spread as an underdog under Cristobal, and that includes a 1-1 against-the-spread record this season.
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Three things to watch
Jonathan Taylor’s yardage
We mentioned Taylor’s rush toward 2,000 yards, and he will take his shots at an Oregon run defense that allowed just 3.2 yards per carry this season. The magic number for Taylor is 150 rushing yards: The Badgers are 16-1 when he hits that number, with the lone loss coming to Penn State in 2018.
Justin Herbert’s touchdowns
Herbert impressed against Utah in the Pac-12 championship game, and he’ll try to do the same against a Wisconsin pass defense that allowed just 191.2 passing yards per game this season. The Ducks had a 7-1 record this season when Herbert threw for multiple touchdowns. Herbert had four different receivers with more than 400 yards, led by Johnny Johnson III (55 catches, 818 yards, seven touchdowns).
Edge rushers
Both teams have outstanding pass-rushers who can wreck a game plan. How will Wisconsin’s tackles fare against Kayvon Thibodeaux, a freshman sensation who had 6.5 of his nine sacks in Oregon’s last five games. SN second-team All-American Zack Baun led Wisconsin with 12.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. Watch the head-to-head matchups with Oregon’s Penei Sewell, a SN first-team All-American who won the Outland Trophy.
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Stat that matters
Wisconsin’s passing attack is much different than Oregon’s, but it comes with similar efficiency. The Ducks finished at 160.4, and the Badgers finished at 155.3. Jack Coan had 17 touchdowns and four interceptions, and he averaged 8.4 yards per attempt. He will take more deep shots than expected against the Ducks, and look for Quintez Cephus (52 catches, 842 yards, six touchdowns) to be involved.
Oregon vs. Wisconsin prediction
The Pac-12 had a 4-3 advantage against the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl since 2010, and this game should be played at the same furious pace as the last time they met. Herbert will hit a couple big passing plays in the first half that get Oregon going, but Wisconsin’s offensive line will continue to plod away against the Ducks. Taylor breaks through with two long touchdown runs in the second half, and the Badgers hold in the fourth quarter for a Rose Bowl victory.
Wisconsin 38, Oregon 34