Bowl Breakdown: Capital One No. 7 Auburn (9-2) vs. No. 21 Wisconsin (9-3) Jan. 2, 1 p.m. (ABC) Florida Citrus Bowl (65,438) Orlando, Fla.

SI.com's Stewart Mandel analyzes the matchup.

Breaking down Auburn

Junior Kenny Irons rushed for 1,245 yards and had eight 100-yard games. Andy Lyons/Getty Images

The Tigers boast the SEC's top-ranked offense. Workhorse tailback Kenny Irons had eight 100-yard games, including a combined 397 against divisional champs LSU and Georgia. First-year QB Brandon Cox improved considerably over the course of the season. He benefits from a talented receiving corps, led by Courtney Taylor, and a powerful line, anchored by All-America tackle Marcus McNeill.

With a trio of standout ends in Stanley McClover, Marquies Gunn and Quentin Groves, the Tigers have a ferocious pass-rush which produced 11 sacks in their season-ending Iron Bowl win over Alabama. Linebacker Travis Williams keys a solid rushing defense. If Auburn has one weakness, it's the secondary, which netted just eight interceptions and gave up some big plays down the stretch.      

Breaking down Wisconsin

The Badgers live and die with versatile tailback Brian Calhoun, who rushed for 1,423 yards and 21 touchdowns and had 563 more receiving, but he disappeared in late-season losses to Penn State and Iowa. Underrated quarterback John Stocco engineered key drives in last-second wins over Michigan and Minnesota and threw for 2,619 yards and 19 touchdowns.

A big part of Wisconsin's success this season was due to its special teams. Punter Ken DeBauche consistently gave opponents poor field position, and Brandon Williams was one of the nation's most productive kick and punt returners. A year after losing its entire D-line to the NFL, the Badgers struggled defensively, ranking 100th nationally. Linebackers Dontez Sanders and Mark Zalewski are the standouts.      

Final Analysis

Wisconsin will be playing with emotion in Barry Alvarez's last game as coach, but otherwise, this one's a mismatch. Auburn was arguably the best team in the SEC the second half of the season. The Tigers should control both lines of scrimmage, and the Badgers' overmatched defense won't be able to hold down Auburn coordinator Al Borges' balanced attack.

The pick: Auburn 35, Wisconsin 21.