About a dozen years ago a very sharp bettor converted my initial cynicism regarding the big edge teams have in neutral games if they travel a much shorter distance. This very much applies in college basketball as well.

Though we do not have software than can definitively measure it, my experience in researching it, is that it is truly a big advantage in minor bowls. USC will travel 112 miles to San Diego to play in-state, while Wisconsin will travel 1664 miles. The weather will be a mild 62 degrees, certainly not to the benefit of the cold weather Big Ten team.

The Trojans bring a record-setting quarterback of their own in Cody Kessler, one who was the MVP of the Holiday Bowl last year. They also can rally around the adversity they faced this year with the head coaching circus.