Wisconsin (7-5, 4-4) can finally begin to prepare for an opponent in its final game of the season as the Auburn Tigers (7-5, 5-3) were named their opposition in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl earlier this week. The Badgers, who will go 39 days between games, still have a sour taste in their mouths after their heartbreaking 27-21 loss to Iowa to end the regular season. The long layoff also allows for the Badgers to get healthy and to be at full strength for one of the few times all year.

Auburn rolls into Nashville trying to salvage a season that began with a No. 4 ranking and national championship hopes. After the Tigers started 0-2, Auburn rebounded with a five-game winning streak only to lose three of their last five to finish the season.

Under head coach Barry Alvarez, the Badgers are 7-1 in bowl games since 1993. If the Badgers want to continue their success in post-season play, here are five things they will have to do in order to beat the Tigers.

Stop the “Cadillac:”

Junior running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams is the centerpiece of the Auburn offense. Williams rushed for 1,239 yards and a Southeastern Conference-leading 15 touchdowns. The “Cadillac” spearheads an Auburn ground game that averages nearly 183 yards per game. Williams’ slashing and bruising running style could pose problems for the Badger defense that struggled at times throughout the season against potent rushing offenses. The interior line of the Badgers’ defense needs to control the line of scrimmage and not allow Williams to break free into the open field. If the line does not raise their game to another level, the “Cadillac” may drive the Badgers crazy.

Put pressure on Campbell:

The skinny on Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell is that he tends to make mistakes when he is under heavy pressure. When Campbell, a first-year starter as a junior, is faced with five, six and seven man blitz packages, he makes poor reads and throws that can result in interceptions. The Badger defense must be opportunistic against Campbell. They must force Auburn to abandon the run and put the fate of Auburn’s attack squarely upon Campbell’s inexperienced shoulders.

If the Badgers can get a pass rush from their down linemen and send a linebacker or a cornerback on occasional blitzes, then the secondary will be able to make plays and create turnovers from Auburn’s passing game.

Pound the rock:

Here is a keeper stat that reflects how the Badgers win football games: in their seven wins, the Badgers averaged over 238 yards rushing. In their five losses, they averaged only 115 yards on the ground. It is quite obvious that as the rushing attack goes, so goes the fortunes of the Badgers.

Running the football has been the trademark of the Badger offense for the last decade, but the importance of the run to UW’s success may never have been greater than during this season. Offensive coordinator Brian White is sure to give Auburn a healthy dose of a healed and rejuvenated Anthony Davis. With Dwayne Smith and Booker Stanley able to contribute from their back-up roles, the Auburn defense must prepare to stop UW’s three-headed rushing attack. If the Badgers can gain chunks of yards on the ground and control time of possession, the numbers show that the Badgers are more likely to win.

Neutralize Auburn’s defensive speed:

Auburn’s defense is one of the best in the country. They allow 16.5 points per game while ranking ninth nationally against the run and 18th nationally against the pass. The Tiger defense is led by senior linebackers Karlos Dansby and Dontarrious Thomas. Dansby and Thomas are strong and fast, qualities that are representative of the entire defensive unit.

In order to counter their athletic ability, there are several things the Badgers can do on offense. On the ground, they can run traps and misdirection plays that capitalize on an over-aggressive front seven. In the air, Jim Sorgi can use play-action fakes to draw in linebackers and freeze fast-charging defensive lineman. If effective, this can lead to man coverage on Wisconsin receivers, allowing Lee Evans and company to make plays downfield.

Win in the trenches:

In any game, whoever controls the line of scrimmage usually comes out victorious. This fact is only magnified in a bowl game. Auburn and Wisconsin are relatively equally matched teams with similar styles on both sides of the ball. Games between even teams are often decided up front with the linemen. Whoever wins the battle on the line of scrimmage dictates the flow and tempo of the game.

Both the offensive and defensive lines will have to step up for Wisconsin against a talented Auburn squad. If the Badgers can win the battle inside, they will have a very good chance of beating Auburn and continuing their success in bowl games under Alvarez.