LAS VEGAS BOWL -- Arizona State has had yet another season with a predictable pattern: receive an early top-25 ranking but quickly become derailed in conference play. An overall down year for the Pac-12 helped mask other issues the Sun Devils had. Look for Wisconsin to have no problem from a travel standpoint, as Arizona State ends the season with a poor showing.

LAS VEGAS BOWL -- I was hoping this would dip back to -6.5 but if anything it's starting to rise, so let's take the -7 and hope for no push. Arizona State has lost a ton of talent to opt outs or transfers, including its top two running backs. With the news that fullback John Chenal flew to Vegas this morning on his own, the Badgers appear whole for the game -- and you know Allegiant Stadium is going to be filled with Cheeseheads. This really feels like a game where one team wants to be there and the other is, like, yawn.

Subtract eight starters from an already mediocre roster, and Arizona State faces a Sisyphean task against a foe that embraces bowls. The Badgers stand 5-1 straight-up under coach Paul Chryst, and they send out the nation's No. 1 run defense. Among the bailing Sun Devils are their No. 1 and 2 rushers. The O-line, which has yielded 15 sacks in the past half-dozen games, has thinned out. Joining the absentees are the main two cornerbacks and top linebacker. Any margin less than double digits would be surprising.