The Wisconsin Badgers face the USC Trojans in a Big 10/Pac 12 showdown in the Holiday Bowl that will give the winner bragging rights and really nothing more. Both teams had up and down years. The Badgers hired a new coach as Paul Chryst took over and even though he won 9 games in his first season, they didn’t beat anyone with a winning record. The Badgers lost to Iowa, Alabama and Northwestern and if they don’t beat USC, it will be a disappointing year in Badger-land.
USC fired head coach Steve Sarkisian midway through the year and got hot under interim coach Clay Helton, hot enough to replace the interim label, with a head coach label. Helton’s journey begins now and it won’t be easy against a tough Badgers defense.
The Trojans are led by quarterback Cody Kessler and he, by far, is the best quarterback the Badgers have faced all year. The Trojans thrived when the running game showed up. Kessler can’t do it on his own and USC will have to find a running game if they want to come out on top and that won’t be easy, the Badgers rank No. 1 in the country in scoring defense and also rank No. 3 in total defense. The Trojans and Kessler will have their hands full and it is a must that they find some sort of ground attack to take the pressure off of Kessler.
USC has won 9 of its last 11 bowls games, six of its last seven and two in a row, including last year’s Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska.
ODDS
December 30, 2015
Holiday Bowl
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
10:30 p.m., ET - ESPN
Wisconsin Badgers +3.5
USC Trojans -3.5
Game Total 49.5
BETTING ANGLE
USC opened as a 3-point favorite and now has drifted to -3.5, a slight move, but a big move. Anytime the spread moves off a 3 or 7 point line, it’s a big move. The game total opened at 49.5 and hasn’t moved.
The total probably will move closer to game time and with the forecast perfect, the total will move up before it moves down.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Two contrasting styles of play meet head to head when these teams face each other. Wisconsin plays Big Ten football, pounding the ball, playing the field position game with great defense. USC likes to spread it out with a hurry up type offense and their defense is average at best.
The key to the game will be the USC ground game. Everyone knows they can pass the ball, but their real concern will be running the ball against a top 10 Badgers rushing defense. Wisconsin’s offense has looked lethargic most of the year and doesn’t possess the threat it has in previous years. If USC can stop the run, they will have no problem winning this game. The Trojans should be able to put points up but only in the air, their rushing attack will be shut down by a stout Badgers front seven. Turnovers are always a key component and whoever wins that battle usually comes out on top. The Badgers finally beat a team with a winning record and upset USC, 28-24.
The college football odds for this game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The USC Trojans were pegged as 3-point chalk while the total opened at 49. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
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