Wisconsin - P.J. Hill

[onlooker]

He will play in the Outback Bowl on Tuesday. His status has been up in the air all month long, and I just seen him as Doubtful the other day. So just passing along a heads up.

I'm glad I bet this one a few weeks back, at +145, as it is all the way down to +100 at the LV Hilton.

Badgers' Hill Headed Outback

Tailback P.J. Hill will play in the Outback Bowl against Tennessee.

That was the message delivered emphatically Saturday by Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, three days before the Badgers face the Volunteers.

"He'll be in right away," Bielema told reporters during a news conference with Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer. "He won't start. He'll be involved in the game plan."

Freshman Zach Brown, who moved into the starting lineup in Week 10 at Ohio State when Hill was unable to play because of a leg injury, is set to make his fourth consecutive start.

Sophomore Lance Smith, who was suspended for UW's five regular-season road games because of his involvement in a fight with his girlfriend last summer, is also expected to play.

Hill has missed 13 of the last 15 quarters since suffering a leg injury in the first quarter against Indiana in Week 9. He had five carries for 14 yards in the second half against Michigan in Week 11.

"There are certain strengths P.J. has that are better than Zach or better than Lance," Bielema said. "We do have three guys to fill that position and all three have certain gifts athletically.

"The one thing I've always said about our offense is that Paul Chryst, our offensive coordinator, probably plays to players' strengths as good as any coach I've ever been around."

[mofome]

the vols team is a mess right now. 145 is the right play here no matter what happens. nice grab man.

[mopack]

P.J. Hill isn't even the best RB in Wisconsin's stable. For those of you who haven't watched a whole lot of the badgers, keep an eye on Lance Smith. The kid was suspended for all regular season road games, but all he does is come up with big plays. Don't blink when he's lined up in the backfield, he's a threat to go everytime he touches the rock. I too went in big on both the opening spread and the ml. +150 and +3.5 are looking really really good right about now. Badgers win this outright. In Bielema we trust.

[mofome]

P.J. Hill isn't even the best RB in Wisconsin's stable. For those of you who haven't watched a whole lot of the badgers, keep an eye on Lance Smith. The kid was suspended for all regular season road games, but all he does is come up with big plays. Don't blink when he's lined up in the backfield, he's a threat to go everytime he touches the rock. I too went in big on both the opening spread and the ml. +150 and +3.5 are looking really really good right about now. Badgers win this outright. In Bielema we trust.

bielema is alirght, but i think this is a more a fade the vols spot than it is a play wisconsin spot. wisc isnt very good, imo. i like hill a lot, but i havent seen much of smith so i'll take your word on him. i dont even remember him being recruited at all.

mo

[BuddyBear]

Wisconsin was an awful road team in an awful conference....Tenn is way more talented than UW. Bit of a toss up b/c Tenn is very eratic but UW hasn't been able to compete with the elite teams this year and struggled with some very poor competition along the way.

UW is somewhat risky i believe....

[mopack]

bielema is alirght, but i think this is a more a fade the vols spot than it is a play wisconsin spot. wisc isnt very good, imo. i like hill a lot, but i havent seen much of smith so i'll take your word on him. i dont even remember him being recruited at all.

mo

Smith was not very highly recruited out of high school. He's from ohio but, fortunately for the badgers, was passed up by the buckeyes with beanie wells being in the same class. He's a very fast, shifty back who is obviously not the pounder that pj is, but can take it inside as well as bounce it out and turn the corner. He's averaged 6.3ypc in his duty during home games. He is a game changing back and the already potent badgers running game will be even stronger having pj hill, lance smith and zach brown all slated to be contributors for the first time all year. Just wish the game wasnt so damn early

[mofome]

Smith was not very highly recruited out of high school. He's from ohio but, fortunately for the badgers, was passed up by the buckeyes with beanie wells being in the same class. He's a very fast, shifty back who is obviously not the pounder that pj is, but can take it inside as well as bounce it out and turn the corner. He's averaged 6.3ypc in his duty during home games. He is a game changing back and the already potent badgers running game will be even stronger having pj hill, lance smith and zach brown all slated to be contributors for the first time all year. Just wish the game wasnt so damn early

yeah this game blows being early. i hate this bowl game. physical teams i think have a small advantage over speed teams early. two good running teams, uha and ark, were completely shut down vs the vols, but some sittbird teams ran all over'em. they're hard to figure. in this game the vols will be without their 2nd best lb and their best DT...so wisc should be able to run the ball.

[mopack]

Wisconsin was an awful road team in an awful conference....Tenn is way more talented than UW. Bit of a toss up b/c Tenn is very eratic but UW hasn't been able to compete with the elite teams this year and struggled with some very poor competition along the way.

UW is somewhat risky i believe....

Wisconsin's road schedule was definitely more imposing than their home set. Their 3 toughest games of the year were all on the road, including games w/ BCS game teams, @ILL and @OSU. Both of those games were close. Unfortunately most of the nation didnt get to see the OSU game due to the damn Big 10 network, but that game was much much closer than the final score (Dont ask about the PSU game, i think most of the team never got back on the bus after the ILL letdown). Also, not having your most talented/ athletic back and biggest big play threat in the running game for road games is definitely going to play a big role in how the team plays. Lance is eligible for the bowl game, so they have that going for them.
As far as Tennessee being the more talented team, you are probably right. But then again, thats what everybody said about the Razorbacks last year and Auburn the year before that. Wisconsin always plays tough in bowl games. I look for UW to win this one outright. And then i look for the SEC apologists to make excuses for why big, slow, unathletic UW beat the faster, more talented SEC team for the 3rd straight year.

And if I'm wrong i will definitely have a big bowl of humble pie waiting for me, but hopefully thats not the case.

Happy New Year's to all, and best of luck on all your plays

[mofome]

fkkin-a mopack. welcome to SBR my man!! seems that you'll be a great addition here. keep sharing those thoughts with us man.


happy new year to you as well!

[mopack]

yeah this game blows being early. i hate this bowl game. physical teams i think have a small advantage over speed teams early. two good running teams, uha and ark, were completely shut down vs the vols, but some sittbird teams ran all over'em. they're hard to figure. in this game the vols will be without their 2nd best lb and their best DT...so wisc should be able to run the ball.

I think a lot of people not familiar with UW definitely overlook the balance that they have on offense. Tyler Donovan is a fairly capable QB( and also is a bit of a running threat as well). And they also have, arguably, the most explosive TE in the country in Travis Beckum (I thank god everyday that hes coming back next year). Our WR corp is a little thin with the loss of Sr. Luke Swan, but Paul Hubbard is very serviceable and Freshmen Kyle Jefferson and David Gilreath provide the speed to stretch the field. So even if the run game is stifled, they have some weapons through the air to work with. I dont want to give you the impression that I think that this is a done deal. I am very excited for the game, and the challenge that UT will pose. I hope that it is a hard fought game on both sides (with UW winning ofcourse) and that there are no big injuries during the course of the game like Joe Thomas vs UGA 2 years ago. Happy New Years and heres to a hard fought game!

[dizzyd]

I'm taking Wisconsin ML +100 for 3 units.