Pinstripe Bowl: What to Know

In collaboration with M!KEDROPSPORTS

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

Miami Hurricanes (7-5) vs Wisconsin Badgers (7-5)

Date: Thursday December 27 at 5:15 ET

Location: Yankees Stadium in Bronx, New York

Bowl history

Originated: 2010

History of Conferences: Since 2014, the bowl has featured the ACC vs Big Ten, with the Big Ten winning three of the four matchups

Last year’s result: Iowa beat Boston College 27-20

Miami bowl history

Miami has appeared in 39 bowl games, with 10 of them taking place in the Orange Bowl, including last year’s loss to this same Wisconsin team. Since losing the BCS Championship in 2003, Miami is just 4-8 in bowls, including a six bowl losing streak between 2008-2015.

This is Miami’s first appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl and first game at Yankees Stadium.

Wisconsin bowl history

This year’s Pinstripe Bowl is Wisconsin’s 17^th consecutive bowl game and first in New York City. This is the third time since 2009 they are playing Miami in a bowl game. The Badgers have won four straight bowl games, following a four bowl losing streak.

Series history

Miami has a 2-1 regular season advantage with wins in 1988 and 1989 (Wisconsin scored three points in each of those games), but Wisconsin has won the last two meetings in bowl games. Badgers won the 2009 Champs Sports bowl and the 2017 Orange Bowl.

Game Notes

Key players to watch

Miami: Travis Homer RB

Wisconsin: Jonathan Taylor, RB 

Miami

The Hurricanes finished the regular season 7-5, disappointing after it seemed like they turned a corner a year ago and that “The U was back” after going 11-1 and making their first ACC title game appearance. Miami lost their opener to LSU and after a 5-1 start, lost four ACC games in a row. Inconsistency at quarterback held them back. 

Quarterback Malik Rosier was last year’s full-time starter and he threw just six touchdowns along with five interceptions in 2018, regressing significantly. N’Kosi Perry, the supposed heir to the quarterback throne did throw 13 touchdowns and five interceptions but also had a lower completion percentage (51 percent) than Rosier (53 percent). 

Wisconsin

This was a disappointing season for the Badgers, who finished 7-5 after a 12-0 regular season in 2017. It was the first time since 2015 that the Badgers did not represent the Big Ten West in the conference’s Championship Game. 

Jonathan Taylor won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back, running for 1,989 yards along with 15 touchdowns. But Wisconsin really struggled at the QB position. Alex Hornibrook. who missed time due to injury, threw 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That ratio is extremely uncharacteristic for Wisconsin football. Hornibrook is expected to miss this game, with true sophomore Jack Coan filling in.

For the first time in 15 years, Wisconsin lost to Minnesota. Additionally, they also lost a home game to BYU earlier in the season. 

Final Analysis 

When these teams met in last year’s Orange Bowl, it was a battle between Big Ten and ACC title game runner-ups, who had combined for one regular season loss. This year, the game features two 7-5 teams, who struggled for most of the year. Wisconsin has a solid fan base in New York City, so this game will draw but if you are a Miami fan, where would you rather spend the last week of the year – 70 degrees by the pool or beach or 20 degrees in a baseball stadium? Yeah, that’s what I thought… 

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