Wisconsin
(10-1 record; Barry Alvarez, 9th season) |
UCLA
(10-1 record; Bob Toledo, 3rd season) |
School's Bowl Record: 4-6
Coach's Bowl Record: 3-1
Last Bowl Appearance: January 1998 Outback Bowl (lost to Georgia 33-6)
Record in Rose Bowl: 1-3 (Last appearance 1994, beat UCLA 21-16) |
School's Bowl Record: 11-9-1
Coach's Bowl Record: 1-0
Last Bowl Appearance: January 1998 Cotton Bowl (beat Texas A&M 29-23)
Record in Rose Bowl: 5-6 (last appearance 1994, lost to Wisconsin 21-16) |
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Offensive Stud |
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Ron Dayne, RB, Jr. (268 carries, 1,279 yards, 11 TDs): Another year, another 1,000-yard performance
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Cade McNown, QB, Sr. (188-323, 3,130 yards, 23 TDs, 10 INTs): At times he looked like the Heisman candidate everyone expected, other times he was just ordinary
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Defensive Stud |
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Tom Burke, DE, Sr. (21 sacks): All-America candidate led the nation in sacks
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Larry Atkins, FS, Sr. (85 tackles, 4 INTs): First team All-Pac 10 and semifinalist for the Thorpe Award
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Player to Watch |
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Jamar Fletcher, DB, Fr. (6 INTs): First-team All-Big Ten selection, returned two interceptions for TDs
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Danny Farmer, WR, Sr. (51 catches, 1,132 yards, 8 TDs): A first-team All-Pac 10 selection had his best receiving game (135 yards) against Miami
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Key Stats |
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Best in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 10.2 points per game
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Fifth in the nation in total scoring (40.4 points per game). The Bruins have scored at least 28 in every game this season.
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Surprise Stat |
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Also leading the nation in turnover differential at plus-22
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Ranked 99th in total defense at 432.5 yards per game. However, the Bruins are tied for second in turnover differential at plus-16
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1998 Turning Point |
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Actually a few years ago when the Big Ten schedule was released and Ohio State was not on it.
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The Bruins appeared headed for the Fiesta Bowl before allowing 689 yards of offense to Miami in a 49-45 shootout on championship Saturday.
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Key to Victory |
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Turning up the defense one more notch to stop Cade McNown's high-flying offense.
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Making sure the defense plays up to snuff and not like it did against Miami.
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Outlook |
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Unfortunately, Wisconsin's offense is very one-dimensional and could make it easier for UCLA to shut it down. However, the Bruins allowed Miami's Edgerrin James to rush for 299 yards so there could be hope.
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The Bruins' high-powered offense is something Wisconsin has seen little of this year, other than maybe Purdue. As long as the defense can hold its own (and that's a huge if), UCLA could get another bowl win.
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