Three weeks ago Wisconsin sat in second-to-last place in the Big Ten, on its way to another disastrous losing season. Yet, the Badgers were able to salvage their season with a 49-31 victory over neighboring rival Minnesota Nov. 23 and become bowl eligible.
Three weeks ago Colorado was in the process of clinching the Big 12 North title, gaining the right to play for a conference title and a possible bid in a BCS game. Yet the Buffaloes were trounced by Oklahoma 29-7 in the Big 12 Championship game Nov. 29.
So it is somewhat suprising that Dec. 28 the Badgers (7-6 overall) and the No. 14 Buffaloes (9-4) will square off in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.
\I just look at it as you earn the right to go to a bowl game and a good bowl game,"" UW Head Coach Barry Alvarez said. ""I'm really excited about the experience that all of us will have in San Antonio. I've heard great things about the community. ... That bowl week will be a tremendous experience.""
No matter how enjoyable the experience is for this Badger team, the Buffaloes are in every sense a formidable opponent. Colorado comes in with one of the most explosive running attacks in the nation, led by junior Chris Brown, who is third in NCAA Division I with 1,744 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns despite a late-season injury which sidelined him the last two games of the season.
Although Brown is expected to play, the Buffaloes' offense has not changed much as their running game continued to thrive in the two games Brown missed. Freshman running back Brian Calhoun, a Wisconsin native, rushed for over 100 yards in both contests.
""They certainly are a good team and they are physical,"" UW junior linebacker Jeff Mack said. ""I like how they play. They have a similar style that's reminiscent of the style that you see in the Big Ten.""
No doubt the style of play will be familiar to the Badgers, as ex-Northwestern Head Coach Gary Barnett has brought the Big Ten style of football with him
to Colorado.
""I know we've got our hands full and I know we'll be heavy underdogs,"" Alvarez said. ""Yet I know the brand of football they play. I'm very familiar with what [Barnett] wants to do, and that's very similar to the things we do. So we'll be familiar.""
Although Colorado will most likely be a heavy favorite in this postseason match up, the Badgers still feel that they can compete at the level of a team like the Buffaloes.
""They are a quality opponent ,but we feel good about our chances in this game,"" UW senior offensive lineman Al Johnson said. ""We are excited to play a good opponent, which they are, despite losing two games towards the end of the season.""
Coming in with a No. 14 ranking nationally in both the AP and Coaches' Polls, Colorado will add to the long list of ranked opponents that the Badgers have faced this season. Wisconsin was competitive in most of those games, and for that reason Alvarez and the Badgers feel well prepared to take on Colorado when Dec. 28 rolls around.
""We've played a number of quality opponents,"" Alvarez said. ""We've played [No.] 2, and 3, and 10 and 11 or 12, so we've played a number of quality opponents already and beaten a couple of bowl-bound teams. But that's what you want to do when you go play a bowl game.\
