At one point this season the Badgers were on schedule to compete for the BCS National Championship Game, but a 37-31 last-second loss at Spartan Stadium followed by a road defeat at Ohio State crushed those dreams.
Revenge is fresh on the mind of Wisconsin this weekend, and a Rose Bowl berth is on the line this go-around in Indianapolis.
The Badgers have a potent rushing attack, which is ranked 10th in the nation, led by bruising runner Montee Ball. Ball has rushed for 29 TDs in 2011 and more than 1,600 yards.
Russell Wilson will play solid under center for the Badgers as well. The senior transfer quarterback threw 28 TDs for Wisconsin this season while recording just three interceptions.
Michigan State's sixth-ranked scoring defense will be tested all game long.
The Spartans mediocre offensive attack, ranked 43rd in scoring, will struggle to keep pace with Wisconsin's fourth-ranked scoring offense, and the neutral field will be the ultimate difference in this match-up.
The win will be the Badgers 11th on the season, and earn them a ticket to Pasadena to play No. 9 Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
The final BCS rankings will be kind to Wisconsin for picking up where it left off with the Spartans two months ago, as they will crash the top 10 and finish 2011 as the highest ranked Big Ten team.
