This looks like a major mismatch considering Wisconsin was the Big Ten co-champion last year, finishing 11-2 and losing 21-19 to TCU in the Rose Bowl. The Rebels, meanwhile, finished 2-11 overall and near the bottom of the Mountain West. And you might also remember these two opened the 2010 season in Las Vegas. The game was tight at halftime, with Wisconsin only leading by 3 before scoring 24 unanswered points in the third quarter. John Clay rushed for 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns for UW. Montee Ball added 79 yards and two touchdowns for a Wisconsin rushing attack that totaled 278 yards. It was the 13th straight season-opening win for the Badgers and dropped UNLV to 2-9 all-time vs. Big Ten teams.

Clay is gone now for Wisconsin, but Ball is back to lead a rushing attack that should be among the nation’s best with James White, last year’s UW leading rusher, also back. And tonight will be the debut of Russell Wilson at QB for Wisconsin. He was a record-setter at N.C. State. Because he had already graduated from there and the school released him, Wilson was eligible to play right away in 2011 without sitting out under normal transfer rules after picking Wisconsin over Auburn on June 27. As a junior, Wilson passed for 3,663 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Wilson good have a big night against a UNLV defense that struggled vs. the pass last year. Only five schools finished with fewer than the 12 sacks the Rebels produced last season. It's little coincidence that UNLV gave up 227.8 yards passing per game, last in the Mountain West Conference. The Rebels were in the bottom 10 in the nation last year in points and scoring defense.

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