Starting Tuesday's New Year's Day bowl bonanza (not the bonanza it used to be, but it still qualifies as one) will be the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. SEC powerhouse Tennessee meets Wisconsin of the Big Ten at Raymond James Stadium, which serves as home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Even though Tennessee and Wisconsin have both been pretty consistent over the last 15 years or so, this will mark their first meeting since the 1981 Garden State Bowl (won by Tennessee, 28-21), and just their second meeting in history. The SEC and Big Ten have hooked up for many a bowl game in recent years, but none pairing these two.
Even though the fanbases have the reputation for being rather rabid, Tennessee failed to sell out their allotment of tickets for this game.
The big story to come out of the pregame coverage is the change Wisconsin has made in their starting offensive backfield. You might remember that sophomore P.J. Hill, who ran for 1,500 yards as a freshman in 2006, was injured and unavailable down the stretch for Wisconsin, appearing only briefly in the win over Minnesota November 17. When he did that, it began to look like he would return to the starting job in time for the Badgers' bowl game.
However, something else happened in that win over Minnesota, and as a result, it appears Hill has lost his starting job, at least for now.That "something" was the performance of freshman Zach Brown. Brown seized the opportunity to start at Minnesota (Hill was still dinged up, and Lance Smith was barred from traveling on regular-season road trips because he got mad over cab fare), and he ran for 250 yards and two scores on 29 carries. That, combined with his 100-yard effort the week before against Michigan (he was platooning with Smith in that game), seems to have propelled Brown into "alpha dog" status in the Wisconsin backfield.
The youngster has been revealed to be Tuesday's starter for Wisconsin, with Hill and Smith following him on the depth chart. Is this a potentially permanent move? I honestly don't know. However, it stands to reason that Hill's propensity for getting hurt has become a cause for frustration among the Badger coaches, and it is also possible that Hill is better served being a complimentary back in Wisconsin's offense. Brown's combined speed and power are an element that can't be brought by Hill, a bigger back who has good feet and is very strong, but just doesn't have that second gear.
If you're looking for a sign that Brown is the guy for 2008, watch how head coach Bret Bielema and his offensive staff use Brown, Hill, and Smith in the game Tuesday. Hill and Smith will both be juniors next year, with Hill technically eligible to enter the NFL Draft in April should he (stupidly) choose to do so (he is a redshirt sophomore, meaning he is completing his third year out of high school). Brown is a true freshman, while Smith is a "true" sophomore. If they get the bulk of the work in a close game, it means Hill is probably being phased out. If Hill sees action as a short-yardage and change-of-pace back, it may be a more positive sign for him.
As much as I like Hill, it's maddening to deal with his injuries, and he is simply not fast enough to create his own plays when the blocking breaks down. He's not a perimeter back, and he hasn't flashed much as a receiver. Brown has much more upside as an every-down back, and he also flashes more ability as an all-purpose player.
Not only that, but I think he's a better matchup for the Tennessee defense. That bodes well for Wisconsin's chances on Tuesday.
