Expect a tough, low-scoring defensive effort in this game. Neither team comes in on a roll, having lost four of their last six games. Needless to say, the season hasn’t gone as expected for either team as both opened the season in the Top 25. In fact, the Spartans were picked by some to win the Big Ten coming off consecutive 11-win seasons.

This is a battle between programs looking to ascend the food chain in their respective conferences. Jerry Kill is in his second season in the Twin Cities, rallying the program to its first bowl since 2009. The extra practices will help hasten the development of this rising team.

Michigan was the highest-rated Big Ten team in the AP preseason poll at No. 8, but it was undone by youth, injuries and a brutal schedule. The offense struggled much of the season, getting little production from the tailbacks and an inconsistent effort up front in Brady Hoke’s second season in Ann Arbor.

Gary Andersen sounded like a confident and prepared coach. Soon, he’ll get the chance to prove it, as he was introduced today as the new Wisconsin coach.

Big Ten players have been honored on various all-conference teams. But what about the assistant coaches? Let’s take this time to honor them on a 2012 Big Ten All-Assistant Coach Team.

Wisconsin isn’t apologizing for being the first five-loss team ever in the Rose Bowl. The Badgers will proudly punch their third ticket in a row to Pasadena, thanks largely to a defense that played well all season.

I have to begin my daily links with more news about the new Wisconsin football coach. It’s big doings. In fact, today is the day when Wisconsin introduces Gary Andersen. And here is something you may not know: The former Utah State coach has ties to Ohio State’s Urban Meyer.

The truth hurts, but here it comes: This is the most disappointing team in the Big Ten. The Spartans were considered legit Big Ten contenders coming off consecutive 11-win seasons. Defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi’s unit did its part, yielding 20 or fewer points eight times.

USA Today is out with its analysis of coaching salaries, and let’s just say it’s good to be an assistant coach. On average, FBS assistants made $200,000 in 2012. That’s a 10 percent increase over 2011 and a 29 percent gain since USA Today began this exercise in 2009. Find the entire database at USAToday.com.

I’m gonna kick off daily links with Forbes’ list of the most valuable college football teams. See where your team ranks. And while you are at it, also check out Forbes’ list of the most powerful head coaches.

It’s the holiday season. Time is precious. There are many options when it comes to Big Ten bowl games but there are also five of them on Jan. 1 alone. Which ones should you watch? What should you watch for in each? That’s where I come in with my nifty ranking of the Big Ten bowls from 1-7.

It’s the busy holiday season, but that hasn’t stopped your flow of questions! Thanks! There is a lot going on in the Big Ten as we come to the end of 2012, with the bowl season starting, basketball picking up steam, Wisconsin hiring a coach and talk of Big Ten divisional realignment percolating. I look at all of that in my mail bag.

There is no other place to start my daily links than with the news that broke last night that revealed that Wisconsin is poised to hire a new football coach: Gary Andersen of Utah State. Tom Mulhern of the Wisconsin State Journal was the first to break the news on Tuesday night.

The Maxwell Club, the oldest football club in America, announced Wednesday that Penn State’s Bill O’Brien has been selected as its Coach of the Year for the 2012 season.

Wisconsin will hire Utah State’s Gary Andersen as its next coach, the Big Ten Network confirmed Tuesday night. The Wisconsin State Journal first reported the news.