GAME NOTES: A key Big Ten matchup takes place in Madison this weekend, as the sixth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions come calling on the Wisconsin Badgers.

Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions continued their onslaught on the competition with last week's 20-6 win at Purdue. With the victory, PSU moved to 6-0 on the season and 2-0 in Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions are playing their second straight game outside of Happy Valley and are in the midst of a string of games that features four road games over a five-game span.

The Badgers are just 3-2 on the season and fell out of the top-25 with last week's 20-17 loss to Ohio State. It was the second straight setback for Wisconsin, which dropped a 27-25 heartbreaker at Michigan a week earlier. At 0-2 in the Big Ten, there is no more room for error for Bret Bielema's team.

Wisconsin leads the all-time series with Penn State by an 8-5 count. Penn State has won two of its five games at Camp Randall Stadium and captured the last meeting with Wisconsin, a 38-7 rout in Happy Valley a year ago.

The Nittany Lions have flourished on the offensive side of the football this season, putting up huge numbers both on the ground and through the air. The team has proved to be one of the most productive rushing offenses in the nation, rolling up 256.7 yards per game, on 6.1 yards per carry. The passing game is on par with an additional 243.0 yards per game, resulting in a healthy 44.8 ppg.

It starts with a mobile QB in Daryll Clark, who has solidified his spot under center by completing 64.5 percent of his passes, for 1,116 yards, with nine TDs and just one interception. Clark is also instrumental in the rushing game, adding 4.2 yards per carry and an additional four scores.

The Nittany Lions have plenty of weapons on the outside and in the backfield, with receivers Deon Butler (19 receptions, for 311 yards, two TDs), Derrick Williams (19 receptions, 240 yards, one TD) and Jordan Norwood (18 receptions, 318 yards, four TDs) getting the job downfield and tailback Evan Royster (7.8 yards per carry, 109.8 ypg, eight TDs) carrying the load on the ground. Norwood has been nursing a hamstring injury and missed the Purdue game. He is listed as probable for this contest.

Penn State has been just as impressive on the defensive side of the ball this year, allowing just 11.7 ppg, on a mere 250.3 yards of total offense. The team has been particularly strong against the run (80.2 ypg), as well as getting after opposing quarterbacks with 17 sacks thus far.

Rush end Aaron Maybin has thrived in that area, leading the team in both TFLs (9.0) and sacks (7.0) on the year. He is joined up front by standout end Maurice Evans (one sack), who returned to action two games ago after being suspended for off-the-field problems. Also getting the job done along the defensive front is end Josh Gaines (20 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks).

The defensive line will get its toughest challenge to date this week against Wisconsin according to Joe Paterno.

"I think this will be a real physical test for it (PSU defensive line). No question about it. Wisconsin is a very big, strong, well organized, precise, experienced offensive football team with a dynamic kid running the quarterback spot."

A surprising addition to this productive defense has been LB Navorro Bowman. The 6-1, 228-pounder has elevated his game this year, making plays all over the field. He currently leads the team in tackles (52), with 7.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, one INT and two forced fumbles.

The Badgers will attempt to control the line of scrimmage right from the get- go. Wisconsin likes to get its ground game going early and that has led to 210.6 yards per game on 4.7 yards per carry.

One of the top backs in the Big Ten resides in Madison in the form of P.J. Hill. The junior tailback ranks seventh in school history in rushing yards (3,293) and fourth in scoring (36 touchdowns). He currently ranks 23rd in the nation in rushing at 102.4 yards per game, having amassed 512 yards, on 4.7 ypc, with five TDs. John Clay adds another 52.0 ypg (6.7 ypc) and has four TDs to his credit, giving the team a solid one-two punch out of the backfield.

Quarterback Allan Evridge has completed over 56 percent of his passes on the season, for 899 yards, but his five TDs against four INTs is nothing to get excited about. The passing attack plays second fiddle in Madison, so it isn't surprising that David Gilreath leads the team in receptions with a meager 14 catches over the first five games.

Defensively, Wisconsin has been solid against the pass (186.2 ypg), but that may be because opponents have had success running on the Badgers (123.6 ypg). Still, the team has really shored up things in terms of pass defense of late, allowing a miserly 240 yards combined in the last two games. The team ranks 20th nationally in pass defense and has recorded seven interceptions on the year.

Junior middle linebacker Jaevery McFadden leads the team in tackles with 44 stops. He is followed by fellow LB DeAndre Levy (33 tackles), who paces the team in TFLs (6.0), with two sacks, one INT and one fumble recovery.

Junior end O'Brien Schofield (15 tackles) has been the team's top pass rusher to date, with three of Wisconsin's nine sacks.

It wouldn't have been easy to envision the Badgers losing three straight games when the season began, but unless the team can find some offensive balance against a tenacious Penn State defense, the Nittany Lions will continue there dominance of the opposition with another impressive victory.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Penn State 31, Wisconsin 17