When the Badgers have the ball

The Badgers have hit on their preferred formula in Big Ten games: They lead the conference in rushing (191.8 yards per game) and rushing defense (73.8), in league games. "I know in this league, if you can run the ball and you can stop the run, you've got a chance, especially in the month of November," UW coach Bret Bielema said. That worked against the Hoosiers in last year's 55-20 victory, when the Badgers rushed for 441 yards. The Hoosiers are better against the run this year, with help from two young tackles, Adam Replogle, a true freshman, and Larry Black Jr., a redshirt freshman. Indiana's pass defense is a mess, which might be the only thing to tempt the Badgers to get away from the run. The Hoosiers are without cornerback Ray Fisher (knee), although senior safety Nick Polk, from Milwaukee, is due back after missing the last game with an ankle injury. Indiana has allowed a Big Ten-worst 256.7 passing yards per game. Hoosiers defensive end Jammie Kirlew is putting together one of the best seasons this side of UW's O'Brien Schofield. Kirlew has forced five fumbles and has 13½ tackles for loss.

When the Hoosiers have the ball

Indiana has a variety of offensive formations, from the Pistol to the Wildcat. In the Pistol, created by Nevada coach Chris Ault, the quarterback lines up in the shotgun with the tailback directly behind him. That mixes aspects of the I-formation running game and play-action passing, along with spread passing. It can be difficult for linebackers to key on the tailback, who is obscured. Freshman Darius Willis is fifth in the Big Ten in rushing, averaging 65.6 yards per game. Junior quarterback Ben Chappell ranks fourth in the conference in passing (228.2 ypg) but is ninth in pass efficiency (123.3), with 10 interceptions and 10 touchdown passes. His favorite target is sophomore Tandon Doss, who is third in the Big Ten with 59 receptions. Bielema didn't sound overly concerned about the Wildcat, after the Badgers previously shut down Minnesota's version of it. "It was a nonfactor because our kids identified it and recognized it," Bielema said. "You just have to be sound."

Special teams

The loss of Fisher is a huge blow. He leads the Big Ten in kickoff returns and ranks fourth nationally, averaging 37.4 yards per return. The Hoosiers' next returner, Doss, averages 20.1 yards. Freshman kicker Nick Freeland has made a 61-yard field goal but is just 12-for-20 overall. Punter Chris Hagerup, from Whitefish Bay, is eighth in punting, averaging 41.2 yards. The Badgers blocked their second punt of the season last week, this one by freshman defensive end David Gilbert. Kicker Philip Welch appeared to get straightened out by making all three field goal attempts in windy conditions and is 11-for-17. Isaac Anderson will try again to get his first shot of the season at kickoff returns. David Gilreath will handle the first kickoff, as he did last week, when Purdue's only kickoff was a touchback.

Intangibles

At one time, the Badgers struggled against Indiana, losing back-to-back games in 2001 (63-32) and '02 (32-29). But that has changed with four straight wins by an average of 29.3 points. The last three came on Bielema's watch by a combined 140-40. The Hoosiers had their hearts ripped out the last two weeks, blowing a 25-point lead in a loss at Northwestern and failing to hold on to a 14-point, third-quarter lead in a loss at Iowa. They have led in the fourth quarter of all three Big Ten road games this year and lost every one, including the opener at Michigan. A couple of blown calls by officials last week also went against the Hoosiers. That's a lot to overcome. The Badgers looked refreshed coming off a bye and throttling Purdue 37-0 last week in their most complete performance of the season.

Prediction

How much do the Hoosiers have left in their tank? That's the primary question this week. They could use a lift from the home crowd, but will anybody show up? That's the secondary question. UW's last two games at Indiana featured crowds of 32,142 (2006) and 30,618 ('08). By the end of both of the Badgers' blowout wins, their fans outnumbered the Indiana fans. The Badgers' defense is getting hot at the right time, giving UW a legitimate chance at 10 regular-season wins.

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