Wisconsin Win the Big Ten Title Now Headed to the Rose Bowl

Sunday, December 04, 2011

by Joe Rodriguez

Montee Ball - Wisconsin Win the Big Ten Title Now Headed to the Rose Bowl

Montee Ball scored four touchdowns and Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes as No. 12 Wisconsin Badgers came from behind to win the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game 42-39 over No. 9 Michigan State Spartans on Saturday.

The Badgers earn the Big Ten’s automatic BCS Bowl bid and will face Pac-12 champion Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2.

Wisconsin was down to fourth-and-6 from the Spartans’ 43-yard line with 5:20 left when Wilson scrambled away from the rush and threw across his body to the 7-yard line, where Jeff Duckworth beat a pair of defenders to come down with the ball.

Ball brought it into the end zone on the next play to give the Badgers back the lead. Wilson made a similar play to complete the two-point conversion and put Wisconsin on top 42-39 with 3:45 left.

It looked as though Michigan State would have a chance to win or tie, but the Spartans were called for a running-into-the-punter penalty with 1:37 left, allowing the Badgers to kneel out the clock.

Michigan State had battled back from an early 21-7 deficit, and took the lead on the play of the game. Kirk Cousins completed a pass to Keith Nichol, who was about to be brought down short of the goal line. Nichol turned and lateraled to B.J. Cunningham, who took it the extra 7 yards.

The Badgers got some revenge for earlier in the season, when the Spartans beat them on a Hail Mary pass with no time left.

College Football Betting

- Wisconsin Badgers 42, Michigan State Spartans 39
When: 8:17 PM ET, Saturday, December 3, 2011
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

The Badgers was the 9½-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Football Odds.
ATS Result: Badgers Lost

Bet on NCAA Football games with SBG Global Sportsbook, click here!

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b.j. cunningham - bcs bowl - jeff duckworth - keith nichol - kirk cousins - lucas oil stadium - michigan state spartans - montee ball - rose bowl - russell wilson