Once again, the crew at Capital Times sports will offer its predictions heading into every University of Wisconsin Badgers football game this year.

But this year, there's a twist: We're picking against the spread. And so far, this year has been almost as tough on us as it has been for the Badgers.

This isn't an endorsement of gambling, but rather an attempt to up the ante for our crew, which has rolled through a series of double-digit victory totals over the past four seasons as the Badgers have re-established themselves as a national powerhouse and removed the mystery from the outcome of most games.

It's a close race that comes down to the season finale, in which Florida State (8-4, 5-3 ACC) is favored by 5.5 points against Wisconsin (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten) in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Mike Lucas

Maybe the Badgers should place an emergency phone call (if they haven't already) to Boston College head coach Jeff Jagodzinksi, the Cheesehead who masterminded a successful game plan against the Seminoles in mid-November.

"Jago" was raised in West Allis, and nurtured collegiately at UW-Whitewater, where he played and coached. He also served as an assistant for five years with the Green Bay Packers. Lately, he has been making a name for himself with the Eagles, who knocked off Florida State, 27-17, in Tallahassee.

Why is that important? Well, everybody seems to believe that Wisconsin and Boston College bear a striking resemblance as football teams. That includes Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden.

"They are the opposite of Florida,'' he said of the Badgers in a Hall of Fame understatement. "Florida spreads all over the field, spreads the ball around to everybody. Wisconsin is more a Boston College-type team. They line up with seven men in the front with two big backs and pound the ball. One of your big concerns is if you can get the ball back. They get it, sit on it, and eat up a lot of time with it.''

Boston College got some help from Florida State, which the Badgers will need to keep the score competitive. FSU quarterback Christian Ponder was picked off three times and one of his interceptions was returned 87 yards for a touchdown by Marcellus Bowman. Moreover, the Eagles held the Seminoles to just 73 yards rushing.

"They whipped us upfront,'' Bowden drawled afterward. "The quarterback (Ponder) didn't have time to set and they had the ball the whole dad-gum football game.'' Vintage BobbyBabble.

Boston College converted on 9-of-16 third downs and controled the ball for 38 minutes and 7 seconds, while rushing for 176 yards, 121 from Montel Harris, a native of Jacksonville, Fla. The Eagles led 14-0 in the first quarter and forced Florida State to play catch-up. You can argue that the Seminoles were distracted.

On Friday, Bowden suspended five receivers for their involvement in a campus fight. "It had nothing to do with the loss,'' Bowden countered. But unless the 'Noles are distracted again Saturday in Orlando -- for whatever reason, including indifference -- it's hard to imagine the Badgers making enough plays to win, dad-gum it.

Pick: Florida State 24, Wisconsin 7

Season record: 8-4 overall, 6-6 against the spread

Jim Polzin

If someone had said four months ago that UW's season would end in Orlando against a team from the Sunshine State, the logical assumption would have been a game against Florida in the Capital One Bowl. And while a third bowl trip to Orlando in four seasons wouldn't have been ideal, there would have been buzz from UW fans about a New Year's Day matchup against the Gators and Tim Tebow.