Ranked teams Wisconsin, Fresno State to meet
It's sure to be a frenzied environment Saturday at Fresno State.
The No. 21 Bulldogs' football game against the No. 10 University of Wisconsin is being billed as perhaps the biggest ever for Fresno State.
It's pretty big for Wisconsin, too. Not only is it the first road match for the 2-0 Badgers this year, it is also the first time they will face a ranked opponent. Wisconsin is one of only five teams currently in the Top 25 scheduled to play a nonconference game on the road against another ranked team.
"That's a great compliment to our program, where we stand right now,"
Badgers head coach Bret Bielema said Monday. Good teams see what they are made of when they play strong road games early in the season, he said.
"It's you against the world,"
Bielema said.
Coming off two wins to start the season, Bielema knows all about the comforts of home. In his third season, the coach has yet to see the Badgers lose (16-0) at Camp Randall Stadium.
It's a different story on the road. The team was just 2-3 last year, but the three losses were to their most formidable regular season opponents — Ohio State, Illinois and Penn State.
Bielema blamed those losses on the Badgers not playing their style of football. Getting off to a fast start against Fresno State and playing Wisconsin football will be key to getting a win, he said Monday.
Wisconsin is sure to be tested by the Bulldogs, who beat Rutgers in their opening game and have been preparing for Wisconsin's arrival ever since. Fresno State is 46-11 at home since 1997 and 24-3 in home openers in Bulldog Stadium.
"It's not like they haven't lost a game in there,"
Bielema said while discussing the atmosphere at the stadium. "They've had conference opponents in there that beat them as well as nonconference."
The game is being billed as the biggest ever for the Fresno State program. A win would keep their hopes of a Bowl Championship Series game alive. It also marks the first time two ranked teams have played in Bulldog Stadium, not to mention the first time Fresno State, of the Western Athletic Conference, has welcomed a Big Ten Conference team to town.
The atmosphere is sure to be electric. Even with only just more than 41,000 fans in the stadium, the crowd has a reputation for being loud and intimidating.
"I'm sure we'll hear a few things about our ancestry and heritage,"
Bielema said.
Wisconsin is coming off two home wins.
The Badgers rolled to a 51-14 victory against Marshall on Saturday after finding themselves down early 14-0. Quarterback Allan Evridge, a transfer from Kansas State who sat out the 2006 season, led the charge, throwing for 308 yards and a touchdown.
Tailback P.J. Hill, who had 210 yards in the opening week victory over Akron, was held to just 57 yards against Marshall but scored twice.
Wisconsin star tight end Travis Beckum, who missed the first two games with a hamstring injury, practiced Sunday and is expected to play against Fresno State. Linebacker Jonathan Casillas, who also sat out last week's game, is expected to play as well.
