(19) Wisconsin (9-3) vs. (9) South Carolina (10-2)

Jan.1, 1:00 p.m. (ET) on ABC

If you like the running game, this will be the game for you. Wisconsin has two 1,000 yard rushers and South Carolina has one as well.

Wisconsin finally gets a change of scenery in the postseason, even though the Badgers had their eyes set on making it to their fourth straight Rose Bowl. Its probably a good thing that they take some time off from the Rose Bowl because Wisconsin lost all three of those games to TCU, Oregon, and Stanford. The Capital One Bowl isn’t a bad consolation prize, especially since they will be playing a top ten opponent in South Carolina. The Badgers will be looking to prove they can run on anyone in the country. Their hopes of displaying a dominant ground game on a BCS stage came to an end along with a six-game winning streak with a 31-24 home loss to Penn State in the regular-season finale. They boast the nation’s eighth rushing offense who has gained 3,396 yards on the ground and average 283 rushing yards per game, while their 6.6 yards per carry trailed only Ohio State. The running game is led by Melvin Gordon and James White, both 1,000 yard rushers. Melvin Gordon announced he will return for his junior year after leading the Badgers with 1,466 yards on 8.1 yards per carry with 12 rushing touchdowns. As for senior James White, this will be his last game in a Badgers jersey. White racked up 1,337 yards and a team-high 15 total touchdowns this year. As most people only focus on their running game, — and for good reason — their passing game can be crucial to their success. Quarterback Joel Stave will frequently be called to run play-action passes. Stave has thrown for 2,414 yards and 20 TDs, while throwing 12 interceptions. Stave will have one of the best wide receivers in the nation with Jared Abbrederis, who accounted for 73 receptions, 1,051 yards and seven touchdowns. Linebacker Chris Borland will lead the Badger defense after being named the Big Ten defensive player of the year and a first-team All-American. The Badgers rank fifth in the country in scoring defense allowing just 14.8 points per game and sixth in total defense allowing only 294 yards per game. Wisconsin has key wins against BYU (8-4) and Iowa (8-4). They have key losses to Penn State (7-5) and lost over controversial refereeing to Arizona State (10-3).

South Carolina will be going after their third straight bowl victory after beating another Big Ten opponent, Michigan, in the 2012 Outback Bowl. The Gamecocks, unlike Wisconsin, ended their season on a high-note with a 31-17 victory over then-No.6 Clemson for their fifth in a row — a streak that started with a 27-24 victory at then-No.5 Missouri. The Gamecock’s offense will be led by senior quarterback Connor Shaw whose decision making has been sound as he threw 21 TDs and only one interception this year. South Carolina hasn’t turned over the ball in their last four game this season and have a plus-15 turnover margin over the last four weeks after posing a minus-4 turnover margin through their first eight. For Shaw his second-leading wide receiver Damiere Byrd will miss the game. The 5’9″ speedster required arthroscopic knee surgery after suffering an injury in practice earlier this month. Shaw will still have two dependable receivers in Bruce Ellington and Shaq Roland. Ellington has 43 catches for 635 yards and six touchdowns, while Shaq Roland had 19 catches for 345 yards and five touchdowns. Connor Shaw was also the second leading rusher with 511 yards behind Mike Davis’s 1,134 yards on the ground. Davis is the SEC’s fourth leading rusher this year. The sophomore made noise right off the bat after running for 115 yards on only 12 carries — a 9.6 average — in their season-opener against North Carolina. Davis also scored a touchdown in each of his first seven games, including three against Central Florida, and finished the year with 11 total. This defense stars on of the most-hyped players in college football and drew as much attention from opposing offensive lines as anyone. I am talking about Jadeveon Clowney of course, who ended an injury-plagued season with just three sacks. It didn’t stop South Carolina from being the third ranked team in the SEC in total defense by only giving up 345 yards per game and are also ranked second in the SEC in scoring defense only giving up 20 points per game. While Clowney was getting double-teamed on the line, Kelcy Quarles shined with 9.5 sacks this year. South Carolina has key wins against Clemson (10-2) and Missouri (11-2) and their two losses are against Georgia (8-4) and Tennessee (5-7).

Tiago- South Carolina

Matt- Wisconsin

Tom- Wisconsin