By Danny Morales
TAMPA — Rushing will be the name of the game when NCAA leading rusher Melvin Gordon and the No. 17 Wisconsin Badgers take on the No. 19 Auburn Tigers in the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on New Year's Day.
Both teams feature run heavy offenses, but only the Badgers have this season's leading rusher in Gordon who has ran for 2, 336 this season an earned a nod for the Heisman Trophy presentation in New York City. Wisconsin's offense ranks third in the nation in rushing as they average 314 yards per game on the ground.
Auburn's offense features the SEC's leader in rushing yards with Cameron Artis-Payne, who went for 1,482 yards on the ground this season, as well as dual-threat quarterback Nick Marshall who threw for 2,315 yards and ran for another 780 yards this season, while scoring 29 total touchdowns for the Tigers.
"He's very hard to get down and very athletic and very skilled," said Wisconsin interim head coach Barry Alvarez about stopping Marshall. "Any time that you play someone with that type of ability you better be sound, you better corner the defense and try to have people chase him down and take the proper angles.
"You have to be sound and it's still very difficult to get him down."
Artis-Payne has done a good job stepping into the shoes of Tre Mason this year, as the senior from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has scored 11 touchdowns this season after playing behind Mason during last year's National Championship game run.
"He's had an outstanding year for us," said Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. "He's one of those tough guys that is very coachable. We're very proud to have him and he'll be ready to play."
Wisconsin's fourth ranked defense features a group of linebackers that will be ready for the challenge both Artis-Payne and Marshall present with their feet. The Badgers linebacker corp which feature Vince Biegel, Joe Schobert, Derek Landisch and Marcus Trotter have combined for 52 tackles for loss and 23 sacks this season. With as much as Auburn likes to run the ball these four guys in the middle could play key roles for Wisconsin.
The Tigers will be playing without their leading wide receiver Duke Williams after he was suspended for the bowl game for breaking team rules. Williams had 45 catches for 730 yards and five touchdowns for Auburn, but both the players and coaching staff are confident that have the personnel to fill the void left by Williams absence.
"Obviously it's a blow, but we've played games without him," said Malzahn about missing the junior wide out. "We have guys that we feel very good about that are veteran guys that have made plays for us the last two years. We have a plan and we feel good about it."
One of the players looking to fill in for Williams is junior Melvin Ray who had seven receptions for 177 yards and a touchdown this season. Quan Bray will also catch his share of receptions, but his key role will be on special teams as the senior has returned two of his 15 punts for a touchdown and is averaging 18.1 yards per return.
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez will be coaching the Badgers in the Outback Bowl after former head coach Gary Andersen left to take a head coaching job at Oregon State. Alvarez isn't new to having to step in and coach bowl games, as the hall of fame coach had to step in and coach the Rose Bowl after the 2012 season.
"It was important because the players asked me," said Alvarez about the decision to put the headset back on. "That's what we're in this business for is for the players. I wasn't planning on it and my initial response is that I didn't want to do it. But I think I lend stability to those players."
These teams have only faced each other three times in the past, but the last meeting happened during a bowl game in the Sunshine State, as the Badgers defeated the Tigers 24-10 in the 2006 Capital One Bowl to tie the all-time series at 1-1-1.
Auburn and Wisconsin will face-off in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on New Year’s Day at noon EST.
TAMPA — Rushing will be the name of the game when NCAA leading rusher Melvin Gordon and the No. 17 Wisconsin Badgers take on the No. 19 Auburn Tigers in the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on New Year's Day.
Both teams feature run heavy offenses, but only the Badgers have this season's leading rusher in Gordon who has ran for 2, 336 this season an earned a nod for the Heisman Trophy presentation in New York City. Wisconsin's offense ranks third in the nation in rushing as they average 314 yards per game on the ground.
Auburn's offense features the SEC's leader in rushing yards with Cameron Artis-Payne, who went for 1,482 yards on the ground this season, as well as dual-threat quarterback Nick Marshall who threw for 2,315 yards and ran for another 780 yards this season, while scoring 29 total touchdowns for the Tigers.
"He's very hard to get down and very athletic and very skilled," said Wisconsin interim head coach Barry Alvarez about stopping Marshall. "Any time that you play someone with that type of ability you better be sound, you better corner the defense and try to have people chase him down and take the proper angles.
"You have to be sound and it's still very difficult to get him down."
Artis-Payne has done a good job stepping into the shoes of Tre Mason this year, as the senior from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has scored 11 touchdowns this season after playing behind Mason during last year's National Championship game run.
"He's had an outstanding year for us," said Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. "He's one of those tough guys that is very coachable. We're very proud to have him and he'll be ready to play."
Wisconsin's fourth ranked defense features a group of linebackers that will be ready for the challenge both Artis-Payne and Marshall present with their feet. The Badgers linebacker corp which feature Vince Biegel, Joe Schobert, Derek Landisch and Marcus Trotter have combined for 52 tackles for loss and 23 sacks this season. With as much as Auburn likes to run the ball these four guys in the middle could play key roles for Wisconsin.
The Tigers will be playing without their leading wide receiver Duke Williams after he was suspended for the bowl game for breaking team rules. Williams had 45 catches for 730 yards and five touchdowns for Auburn, but both the players and coaching staff are confident that have the personnel to fill the void left by Williams absence.
"Obviously it's a blow, but we've played games without him," said Malzahn about missing the junior wide out. "We have guys that we feel very good about that are veteran guys that have made plays for us the last two years. We have a plan and we feel good about it."
One of the players looking to fill in for Williams is junior Melvin Ray who had seven receptions for 177 yards and a touchdown this season. Quan Bray will also catch his share of receptions, but his key role will be on special teams as the senior has returned two of his 15 punts for a touchdown and is averaging 18.1 yards per return.
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez will be coaching the Badgers in the Outback Bowl after former head coach Gary Andersen left to take a head coaching job at Oregon State. Alvarez isn't new to having to step in and coach bowl games, as the hall of fame coach had to step in and coach the Rose Bowl after the 2012 season.
"It was important because the players asked me," said Alvarez about the decision to put the headset back on. "That's what we're in this business for is for the players. I wasn't planning on it and my initial response is that I didn't want to do it. But I think I lend stability to those players."
These teams have only faced each other three times in the past, but the last meeting happened during a bowl game in the Sunshine State, as the Badgers defeated the Tigers 24-10 in the 2006 Capital One Bowl to tie the all-time series at 1-1-1.
Auburn and Wisconsin will face-off in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on New Year’s Day at noon EST.