The Wisconsin football team is off to an impressive 5-0 start. Coming into the first conference game, Wisconsin has looked solid at times on both sides of the ball. The defense has been stifling, allowing 15.2 points per game, but more importantly, it has made the big stop when needed.

The offense has had its impressive moments and is averaging 23.8 points a game. Unless Penn State’s loss last week was a start of a major crumble, Wisconsin’s offense will have to continue to improve to put enough points up to beat Penn State.

For a productive offense, Wisconsin will have to continue the balance between the running and passing game, stay on the plus side of the takeaway/giveaway category and not count too much on senior-wide receiver Lee Evans’ comeback.

In the blowouts of Arizona and West Virginia, the Wisconsin offense acquired more than 150 yards on the ground and 250 through the air.

Much of this can be contributed to quarterback Brooks Bollinger, who has completed 67.8 percent of his passes in the last three games.

True freshman Dwayne Smith acknowledges Bollinger’s smart play.

“[Bollinger] knows what we need to do to win, and he goes out there every Saturday and performs well,” Smith said.

Along with Bollinger, the running game has been terrific, with the combination of sophomore-tailback Anthony Davis, freshman-tailback Dwayne Smith and fullback Matt Bernstein. The trio has combined for nine touchdowns thus far.

With these three players, the Badgers seem to have found a constant ground game to go along with the air attack, which will need to be in top form against a talented Penn State team.

In a blowout win against Louisiana Tech, the Nittany Lions gave up 414 yards passing but only 41 on the ground.

In a runaway win against Nebraska, PSU gave up 252 yards rushing but only 76 through the air.

In Penn State’s loss against Iowa, the Lions allowed over 200 in both categories.

Another key for the Wisconsin offense is turnovers.

Bollinger has thrown just one pick all season, and Penn State has intercepted eight passes in the last three games. If Bollinger can stay away from any major mistakes, he’ll keep the offense under control and, more importantly, keep the defense off the field.

In addition, the running backs and wide receivers have to do their part and hold on to the football.

“Execution is the main factor, just go out there and focus,” Smith said.

Only 136 days after undergoing surgery to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament, Evans is questionable to rejoin his teammates this Saturday.

Past Wisconsin history dictates that a return does not mean production.

In 2000, when Chris Chambers, now a rising star for the Dolphins, came back from a stress fracture in week five vs. Michigan, he did not live up to the hype. After a huge season the year before, Chamber’s first game back yielded 27 yards and his second only 59. Chambers did have a very productive rest of the season.

With or without Evans, Wisconsin will still have to rely on the other receivers, especially redshirt-freshman Jonathan Orr, who has scored four touchdowns and accumulated 397 receiving yards.

Orr is steadily becoming a go-to guy, but he still takes it one game at a time.

“I look at it as opportunity; as long as I get the opportunity, I want to take advantage of it,” Orr said.

After such an embarrassing loss last week, Penn State will be hungry and ready for Saturday.

If the offense can play with the consistency and stay away from big mistakes, they will be able to stay in the game.

However, this is the Big Ten, and they will have to turn it up a notch.
“This is what you grow up for; we’ll be ready, we’ll be pumped up,” Orr said.