WMU tries to row to 14-0 in Cotton Bowl vs Wisconsin

Published Jan. 1, 2017 2:59 p.m. ET

No. 12 Western Michigan (13-0, Mid-American) vs. No. 8 Wisconsin (10-3, Big Ten), 1 p.m. EST (ESPN), Arlington, Texas.

Line: Wisconsin by 8+.

Series Record: Wisconsin leads 3-1.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Western Michigan will try to ''row the boat'' to an undefeated season. The Broncos, who adopted that phrase as their mantra, are the only FBS team other than No. 1 Alabama, which plays Clemson in the national championship game for the second straight year, that could finish undefeated. Wisconsin is trying to finish its fourth 11-win season in seven years and win a third consecutive bowl game. The Badgers had a six-game winning streak before losing to Penn State in the Big Ten championship game.

KEY MATCHUP

WR Corey Davis, the All-American for Western Michigan, against the Wisconsin secondary. Davis has 91 catches this season for 1,427 yards and is the FBS career leader with 5,212 yards receiving. He is the only FBS player ever with 300 career catches, 5,000 yards and 50 TDs. Wisconsin leads all Power Five teams with 21 interceptions, and is the only team that has three players with at least four picks.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Western Michigan: QB Zach Terrell is the leading passer in school history with 11,947 yards. He has 32 touchdowns and three interceptions, the best TD-INT ratio nationally. His 95 TDs are second in school history, behind the 99 by Tim Hiller (2005-09).

Wisconsin: RB Corey Clement has 1,304 yards rushing and 14 TDs. He has five consecutive 100-yard games, and eight overall this season.

FACTS & FIGURES

Western Michigan leads the nation with a plus-19 turnover margin. ... The Badgers have won 10 of their last 12 games away from home. The losses are to Michigan and Penn State, Big Ten teams also in New Year's Six bowls. ... RB Jarvion Franklin holds the WMU record with 41 touchdowns rushing. ... OLB Vince Biegel and CB Sojuorn Shelton are each set to play their 54th career games, which would match a Wisconsin record. ... The teams were both 3-0 against common opponents - Northwestern, Illinois and Akron. ... Only one Big Ten team played in the first 78 Cotton Bowls before Michigan State the last two years and now Wisconsin.

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