When looking at the Big Ten standings, you’d have to nudge your index finger about halfway through the conference to find the University of Illinois sitting at 2-2 (0-1). On the other hand the University of Wisconsin, at 4-0 (1-0), finds itself with a much more pleasant view at the summit of the Big Ten.

This separation in standing is no indication of the ensuing battle at Camp Randall. To win this Saturday’s second conference-game against the Fighting Illini, the Badgers will have to follow five keys to victory, and follow them closely:

1) Thunder and Lightning in the Forecast: Wisconsin prevailed against thunder and lightning two weeks ago in Arizona, but Illinois’ version may be a little feistier. The powerful Pierre Thomas and the elusive E.B. Halsey, used interchangeably at tailback for Ron Turner’s offense, have averaged 167 rushing yards-per-game with eight touchdowns over the past four games.

Wisconsin has a good chance of hindering that rushing success. The front four, led by the Big Ten’s top defensive player the past two weeks, have allowed just 72.8 average rushing yards this season. Left end Erasmus James has brought national attention to the Badgers’ strong down linemen with his 18 tackles and five sacks.

Poised hungrily behind that line is a linebacker corps that has answered any question of authenticity. Sophomore Reggie Cribbs and junior Dontez Sanders lead the team with 21 and 20 tackles, respectively.

To beat the Illini, Wisconsin will simply have to do what they have been doing all year: hit the running backs hard and often.

2) Special Consideration: In addition to Thomas’ tailback duties, the sophomore also returns kicks for Illinois. This is one special teams athlete that Wisconsin needs to contain.

Thomas has returned 12 kicks for 372 yards, including a 72-yarder and a 99-yard TD return. Taylor Melhaff can kick the ball within the five every time, but it isn’t going to mean anything if Thomas has his way.

3) Jump Around: If Wisconsin can get their fan base behind them early, as it usually does, Camp Randall could become an extremely difficult venue to compete in. Illinois has not yet played a game outside of Champaign-Urbana this season, and a large rowdy stadium like Camp Randall is not an easy place to kickoff a road game.

Head coach Barry Alvarez has praised the fans for their sheer volume over the season, stating that sometimes that noise level can cause an offensive lineman to jump offside or a player to miss an audible. You can bet that senior quarterback Jon Beutjer will be relatively unaffected by a large crowd. Beutjer has started two games at the Camp including a victory in 2002, a game in which he passed for four touchdowns.

Although Illinois’ offensive line has performed well over its first four contests, in-experience could become evident on the left side. Starting at left tackle will be J.J. Simmons who spent his time mostly on special teams last year. The starting Illinois left guard, Martin O’Donnell, was a red-shirt freshman last year.

O’Donnell received top offensive lineman of the year accolades out of high school, but needless to say, he performed in front of a few less than 83,318 spectators.

4) Establish Some Sort of Passing Attack: Quarterback John Stocco needs to use any means necessary to pull some of the attention off halfback Anthony Davis.

Davis returns from his three-week eye injury to find a weary offense, unable to find the end zone consistently. Against Central Florida, the Badger offense scored four touchdowns. While Davis only played half of that game before incurring an eye injury, his presence seemed to set the pace for the offense.

Since then, the offense has only put the ball in the end zone three times in three games. Davis may be the boost this offense needs, but his attempts will be in vain if Stocco cannot surmount a passing attack.

If Illinois watched a single quarter of game tape this week, the coaching staff will know that Wisconsin relies heavily on the run. If the Fighting Illini stack eight or nine men in the box, it wouldn’t matter if Priest Holmes was in the backfield. Simply put, if Wisconsin is going to have a big game on offense, it needs to start with the passing game. Even if the passes are to the backs, as have been Stocco’s favorite receivers.

5) Not the Illinois of 2003: Illinois may be donning the same pumpkin-like jerseys they wore last year, but that is not to say that this is the same team that went 1-11.

Illinois has scored 32.2 points per game this season — nearly double last year’s average of 16.9. Illinois has also just about doubled its rushing production with 213.8 yards per game this year as opposed to 110.7 in 2003.

More importantly Illinois football has a different feel this year. This is a team sitting at .500 that has just come off a near loss to No. 15 Purdue. The Fighting Illini is starting to regain a spring in its step and will be hungry to earn its first Big Ten victory in two years.

The Badgers cannot overlook this game despite the Ohio State contest looming around the bend. The Badgers have not overlooked opponents so far this season. Alvarez’s team is taking one game at a time, playing by the motto “1-0, every week.”

One and 0 is all well and good, but 5-0 just has a nice ring to it.