Wisconsin at Tennessee (01/01/2008)

Away:  Wisconsin [4-7 ATS]
Home:  Tennessee [8-4-1 ATS]

Game Time: 11:00 AM
Stadium: Raymond James Stadium

Recent Meetings:
N/A

Team Leaders:

Wisconsin:
Passing: Tyler Donovan (2452)
Rushing: P.J. Hill (1080)
Receiving: Travis Beckum (960)

Tennessee:
Passing: Erik Ainge (3157)
Rushing: Arian Foster (1162)
Receiving: Lucas Taylor (1000)

More:
Live Odds
In-Depth Matchup Information
Consensus Betting Information

As mediocre as Wisconsin may look during the season, they always seem to be a team that plays well enough to win their bowl game.  They're 3-0 ATS in their last 3 bowls, all against SEC foes.  They're also 2-1 SU in those games.

The two key losses for UT are Bolden and Taylor.  This makes the game more winable for Wisconsin, but I still don't think they are good enough offensively to score much on TN.  Ainge really needs to have a good game to help his draft stock after the INTs he threw in the SECCG.  UT protects the passer very well, so expect him to have a good day. 

The point brought up about UT not showing up in the bowl games is my biggest concern.  Fulmer is a players' coach and has had discipline problems there for the past few years.  I don't know what type of curfew he has set for bowls, but he needs to tighten it up.  They stunk up Tampa last year, and got blown out by Clemson and Maryland 2-3 years before that.  I know they are losing Cutcliffe after the bowl game, so one can wonder how distracted he will be.  I was going to take TN as a 3 unit play because they need this win badly to help recruiting, and to stabilize their program.  With the loss of these players, I will knock them down to a one unit bet.  UT plays well when they are desperate, and they may band together like they did for Georgia and play inspired.  Wisky just doen't have many weapons in their gun.  Cautious bet on Rocky Top.

I predicted that Miss State would beat Cen. Florida and you guys laughed. Tenn. will beat Wisc.

All you have to see is that talent is ultimately ruling the Bowl Games; even when they are underdogs. Talent! Talent! Talent! (in the words of Ari Gold from "Entourage")