2009 Champs Sports Bowl Wisconsin vs. Miami Start Time, TV Guide & Odds
Orlando, FL - With a young roster and an emerging star quarterback, Miami is already optimistic about next season. First, it wants to end this one on a high note.
The 14th-ranked Hurricanes take on No. 24 Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 29, the Badgers' second straight postseason trip to Orlando.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SPORTSBETTING.com have made Miami -3 point spread favorites (View College Football odds) for Saturday’s game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 76% of bets for this game have been placed on Miami -3 (View College Football bet percentages).
Miami began the season unranked, but leaped to ninth in the AP poll after a pair of opening wins over ranked opponents - the first time the Hurricanes were ranked in the top 10 since the final regular-season poll of 2005.
Miami (9-3) won four of its last five, closing the year with a 31-10 victory at South Florida on Nov. 28. Now the Hurricanes are looking to secure their first 10-win season since 2003.
"It shows that coach (Randy) Shannon is really taking the time to put a lot into the team, and it has progressed since he has been here the last three years," quarterback Jacory Harris said. "Wherever we are, we are just having fun and that is the reason we are 9-3 and that's the reason why we have had such a success this season thus far."
To get its 10th victory, Miami will have to win its first bowl game since 2006. After a one-year absence from bowl play, the Hurricanes lost 24-17 to California in the Emerald Bowl last year.
Much of the Miami's improvement has been due to Harris, who ranked 15th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 3,164 passing yards. The sophomore had 23 touchdowns, although he also tied for the most interceptions in the nation with 17.
Harris could put up big numbers against Wisconsin, which is ranked 66th against the pass at 219.9 yards per game.
The Hurricanes also boast a versatile ground attack. Graig Cooper led the team with 666 rushing yards while Damien Berry ran for 587 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns.
While Miami averaged 31.7 points this season, the defense took a while to match that level of play. Miami held three of its final four opponents to fewer than 20 points while giving up an average of 264.0 yards over those four games.
"We finished strong," Shannon said. "That tells you about this team. If we get everybody on the right cylinders and doing all the right things, we're going to be fine. I'm very proud of this football team, this coaching staff and what we've done this year."
The Hurricanes have increased their win total in each of their three seasons under Shannon, and unlike previous years, avoided a late-season swoon in 2009. They dropped three in a row to end last season and four straight to close 2007.
Wisconsin (9-3) will be the Hurricanes' first Big Ten opponent since they lost to Ohio State in the BCS title game to end the 2002 season.
Like Miami, the Badgers finished strong by winning four of five, beating Hawaii 51-10 in their finale Dec. 5.
Wisconsin averaged 39.0 points over its last five games, relying on a bruising ground attack that will provide a contrast in offenses to Miami's pass-oriented approach.
John Clay, the Big Ten offensive player of the year, rushed for nine touchdowns over the last five contests and ran for 1,369 yards and 16 TDs on the season.
The Badgers ranked 14th in the nation in rushing at 206.7 yards per game.
Wisconsin is looking to win 10 games for the first time since going 12-1 in 2006. That was also when they won their last bowl game, taking the Capital One Bowl in coach Bret Bielema's first year.
The Badgers are eager to try and erase the memory of last season's Champs Sports Bowl defeat, 42-13 to Florida State.
"(That loss) really left a bad taste in our mouth," defensive back Chris Maragos said. "The whole offseason we wanted to prepare and make sure that didn't happen again. ... We put ourselves in the position to redeem ourselves."
Miami and Wisconsin both averaged more than 30.0 points, and their defenses also appear to be equally matched. Wisconsin is 18th in the country at 310.4 yards allowed per game while Miami is 25th at 321.0.
The Badgers were better at forcing turnovers with a plus-6 margin, while the Hurricanes are at minus-2.
This will be the fourth meeting between the teams and the first since 1989. Wisconsin's only win in the series came in 1958.
2009 Champs Sports Bowl
Teams: Wisconsin vs. Miami
Kickoff: Dec. 29, 2009, 8:00PM ET
Venue: Citrus Bowl Stadium
TV: ESPN
Odds:
225 Wisconsin +3 Over 56
226 Miami -3 Under 56
2009 Champs Sports Bowl Wisconsin vs. Miami Picks & Predictions
The Big Ten Conference is hoping for a big win on Tuesday night when Wisconsin faces Miami in the 2009 Champs Sports Bowl at 8PM ET from Citrus Bowl Stadium.
Wisconsin went 9-3 this season and was 5-6 against the spread on the year. The Badgers can give the Big Ten Conference a win in their bowl debut for the year, as the conference went just 1-6 in bowl games last year.
Miami is 9-3 this year and 6-6 against the spread. The Hurricanes won their last two games of the season, but have failed to cover in four of their last six games.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sports Interaction have made Miami 3.5-point favorites over Wisconsin on Tuesday night. The over/under total for this game has been established at 57.
Wisconsin has scored the most points in the Big Ten, posting 32.8 points per-game. The Badgers have the top rushing attack in the conference, led by John Clay, who has rushed for 1,396 yards and 16 touchdowns this year. Miami is holding opponents to 22.3 points per-game defensively, but the Hurricanes have been balanced on defense, not dominating in the air or on the ground.
Miami is scoring 31.7 points per-game, thanks mostly to quarterback Jacory Harris. Harris has thrown for 3,164 yards and 23 touchdowns this season, but has also thrown 17 interceptions this year. Wisconsin is holding teams to 22.4 points and 310.4 yards per-game on the season. The Badgers have the second best rushing defense in the Big Ten, limiting teams to only 90.5 rushing yards per-game this season.
Years ago this bowl would seem like a great matchup, but the Big Ten’s inability to play out of conference makes Miami the easy pick in this game. The Hurricanes have the home field advantage, they have superior athletes, and they have played a tougher schedule. The Badgers just don’t have the talent to run the ball over Miami. Wisconsin’s only hope is for Harris to turn the ball over, but with a month of preparation, he should have a solid game against Wisconsin. Trends support this pick as the Badgers are only 2-10 against the spread in grass games and 5-14 ATS against teams with winning records.
Our Champs Sports Bowl Free Pick for this matchup is: MIAMI -3.5 and UNDER 57.
College Football Bowl Season Betting Trends
WISCONSIN is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
WISCONSIN is 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
Wisconsin is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Wisconsin's last 5 games
Miami is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Miami is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Bowl Season College Football Injury Report
WISCONSIN
- 12/12/2009 - Josh Oglesby is upgraded to probable Tuesday vs. Miami Florida ( Knee )
[C] 12/12/2009 - Peter Konz doubtful Tuesday vs. Miami Florida ( Lung )
[OG] 12/22/2009 - Bill Nagy expected to miss Tuesday vs. Miami Florida ( Foot )
MIAMI
[DE] 09/05/2009 - Gavin Hardin out for season ( Neck )
[LB] 09/05/2009 - Shayon Green out for season ( Lower Body )
[DE] 08/21/2009 - Adewale Ojomo out for season ( Jaw )
[FB] 11/21/2009 - Patrick Hill out indefinitely ( Ankle )
[CB] 10/10/2009 - Ryan Hill out for season ( Shoulder )
[TE] 10/10/2009 - Richard Gordon out for season ( Shoulder )
[DT] 10/12/2009 - Marcus Forston out for season ( Ankle )
[LB] 10/13/2009 - Jordan Futch out for season ( Knee )
[S) 11/21/2009 - JoJo Nicolas out for season ( Shoulder )
[DL] 11/05/2009 - Dyron Dye out indefinitely ( Lower Body )
[OT] 12/19/2009 - Jason Fox is downgraded to expected to miss Tuesday vs. Wisconsin ( Knee )
[DE] 12/07/2009 - Eric Moncur "?" Tuesday vs. Wisconsin ( Calf )
[QB] 12/23/2009 - Jacory Harris probable Tuesday vs. Wisconsin ( Thumb )
Champs Sports Bowl Odds
Wisconsin Badgers +3.5 Over 57 (+155)
Miami Hurricanes -3.5 Under 57 (-175)