Badgers must pounce for Pasadena now,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
There is no better time than the present to target Pasadena.
Ohio State made four straight trips to the Rose Bowl from 197376 and Michigan advanced to Pasadena three straight from 197779,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych].
The Badgers are on the doorstep of advancing to the school's third straight Rose Bowl game, which would make them the third team in Big Ten history to advance to the most storied bowl game three or more times in a row.
And what's even better for the Badgers is the time couldn't be better for them. Granted, Russell Wilson is now vying for a starting role with the Seahawks and is no longer there but Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball returns.
Add in the small detail of another ACC quarterback transfer running out of the Camp Randall tunnel and the planets are more than aligned,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]. Danny O'Brien was 32 of 61 on third down in nine games last year,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]. Expect those numbers to skyrocket with yet another stellar offensive line that includes left tackle Ricky Wagner tabbed by many to be a first round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Then there's that little tidbit about competition. It's arguable that Ohio State is a better team than Wisconsin on paper. Urban Meyer wasted no time signing five kids that are in the ESPN 150,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], much to the chagrin of other conference coaches. However, Meyer has already said that the Buckeyes' final two games at Wisconsin and vs. Michigan will be treated like bowl games because Ohio State is on a oneyear postseason ban.
Which of course opens the door in the Leaders Division. Penn State was a respectable 62 in the Big Ten last year but it never showed up in big games going 04 against ranked opponents,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]. The offense was stagnant last year and Bill O'Brien has to follow the enormous Nike shoes of college football's grandpa in Joe Paterno who was forced out after the Jerry Sandusky mess.
After that, the rest of the division will be mediocre at best. Perhaps Illinois will surprise people with Nathan Scheelhaase at quarterback but don't expect the Illini to remain in contention for long with road games at Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State.
Many people think the biggest question for the Badgers is at the quarterback position, but it's not. The biggest question resides on the defensive line to own the line of scrimmage and put pressure on the quarterback. Over 40 percent of third downs were converted by the opposing offense last year seven times. A lot of that has to do with a mediocre pass rush that was ranked No. 71 in the nation with 25 sacks for the season.
With Ohio State forced to sit on their hands this postseason and Penn State in a state of flux, Wisconsin can etch its name into history with its third straight Rose Bowl appearance as long as linebackers Mike Taylor and Chris Borland don't get overworked.
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