Outback Bowl
Background:
Tennessee leads the Series, 1-0. The game was the Garden State Bowl, in 1981.
Tennessee: Loss to LSU after a 5 game win streak
Wisconsin: Wins at Michigan and Minnesota
Tennessee Advantages:
All of their losses were to opponents in the top 12 (at the time of play), excluding Alabama.
Took care of business in the SEC, finishing 2nd.
They were essentially a couple plays away from being a BCS team. That's where 'BAMA come back to bite ya.
Have a very well established caoch in Fulmer, been there since 1992.
Solid running game, Adrian foster has 1,162 yards and 12 TDs.
Tennessee Disadvantages:
They will be missing 1 of their 2 main recievers (Lucas Taylor) among 5 other players, 2 of them starters (LB, DT).
Have a ho-hum defense that is missing two players.
Wisconsin Advantages:
Has defeated the SEC in bowls each of the past two seasons.
Bad boy Lance Smith-Williams might light it up in his first game outside of Madison (due to violating team policy).
They have a defense that is more than decent enough to beat Tennessees reciever-less offense.
Wisconsin Disadvantages:
Kind of sputtered along the stretch with ho-hum losses to Penn State and Michigan.
Comes out of a weak Big 10 conference.
Probobly are without 1080 yard and 18 TD Runningback P.J. Hill.
Writer Predictions:
Jason Frost: TBA
OKLuschen: TBA
Zorgon: Tennessee. As I go on, it's harder and harder to find big disadvantages to these teams, since they become increasingly good and less one-dimensional. Still, in this matchup, all signs point to Tennessee. Wisconsin had the weaker schedule and has no running back while Tennessee was a smidgen away from having a BCS berth. This team got kinda screwed like Missouri did-losing out for playing in a conference championship game. Tennessee in an extremely close one.
Bottom Line: Tennessee 1, Wisconsin 0
