The Music City will be jamming on the early morning of Dec. 31 when the Badgers (4-4 Big Ten, 7-5 overall) take on the Auburn Tigers (5-3 Southeastern Conference, 7-5 overall) in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. The two teams play similar styles and should match up well, providing one of the year's more exciting bowl games.
\Both of us had times during the year that we struggled and there were high expectations,"" said Auburn Head Coach Tommy Tuberville. ""We feel like we each have two great football teams and two great programs and I think it will show on Dec. 31.""
Despite an injury-riddled season, the Badgers should be at full strength for the game. Running backs junior Anthony Davis, sophomore Dwayne Smith and freshman Booker Stanley each got their share of carries due to one another's injuries. The three complement each other well and could all see carries. The Badgers also have an offensive threat in the form of senior wide receiver Lee Evans, who is capable of scoring at any given time.
Auburn has an outstanding running back as well. Carnell ""Cadillac"" Williams ran for 1,239 yards and 15 touchdowns, enough to earn a unanimous all-SEC First Team award. He led the SEC in rushing and is Auburn's biggest offensive threat. They rely heavily on their running game, and the combination of big lineman up front and speedy running backs can be lethal.
""Offensively, they have tremendous amount of speed,"" said UW Head Coach Barry Alvarez. ""The line is much bigger than what I would anticipate from a Southeast Conference line.""
Defensively, the Badgers have had good and bad games this year, but seem to play their best against teams who run frequently. Senior linebackers Jeff Mack and Alex Lewis hit hard and quickly clog up holes before backs get through.
Auburn has a stingy, athletic defense which holds teams to less than 100 yards on the ground consistently. They are led by unanimous first-team all-SEC linebacker Karlos Dansby and second-team lineman Reggie Torbor. Together they combined for 12 sacks and six forced fumbles. They never allowed more than 24 points per game this year.
""They've had a lot of success and they're always a good football team,"" Alvarez said. ""I think our guys are excited about that. That is the type of team you want to play in a bowl game. It is a big-name school in a big-name conference.""
The only other time teams met was in 1931, when they played a 7-7 tie. This is the third time in four years that Auburn faces a Big Ten team in a bowl game. They lost to Michigan three years ago and beat Penn State last year, both in hard-fought games, similar to the way the Music City Bowl could play out.
""It is a game for fun, for excitement-that is what the bowl season is about,"" Tuberville said. ""We are going to be well prepared for the game and hopefully we can play well.""
This is a game that is too close to predict. Wisconsin may have a few more offensive threats and both teams play tough defense. It is going to be a rough battle between two solid teams from two solid football conferences in a game that may turn out to be the most exciting game not on New Year's Day.
