1) Control the line of scrimmage: For the Badgers to be successful Saturday, the offensive and defensive lines must set the tempo and control the game. The offensive line will need to continue what it has done all year: give Anthony Davis holes to run through and provide John Stocco time in the pocket. If Northwestern needs to start loading the box with eight defenders to stop the run or needs to blitz frequently just to get pressure on Stocco, then half the battle is already won for Wisconsin.

Defensively, the line is going to have to show it can still wreak havoc without right end Erasmus James. With ‘Raz out for the game and left end Jonathon Welsh unlikely to start, Jamal Cooper and Joe Moty, who took a considerable number of snaps last week, will need to step up to revive the pass rush. Anttaj Hawthorne will also have the opportunity to remind fans why he was considered the most dangerous defensive lineman on the squad pre-season. If the line stuffs tailback Noah Herron and can still generate pressure on Wildcat quarterback Brett Basanez, then it could be a long, long day for Northwestern.

2) Don’t turn Basanez into Orton: Although Northwestern and Basanez sport the conference’s second best passing attack, behind Kyle Orton and Purdue, the Northwestern passing game is not on the same planet as the Boilermaker aerial attack. That being said, the Wildcats can still hurt the Badgers through the air if the pass coverage gets sloppy.

The Badger secondary should be licking its chops at the opportunity to play Basanez, who has a nasty habit of launching the ball to no one in particular when he gets rattled. If the Badger secondary can blanket the Northwestern receivers like it did against Purdue and Ohio State, it should be able to make Basanez force some ill-advised throws.

If receivers are open, however, Basanez can and probably will hit them. If the Badgers are unable to cover up all of Basanez’s targets, he could look like a Heisman candidate himself Saturday.

3) Exploit the weak pass D: John Stocco should have an opportunity to deliver another very solid performance this week, as the Wildcat pass defense is just north of terrible. Northwestern is giving up an average of 284 yards per game through the air, one yard less than Big Ten worst Minnesota. Brandon Williams, Owen Daniels and Jonathan Orr should all have opportunities to break loose for long pass completions, so it will be up to Stocco to connect and put the ball where it needs to be.

Stocco has done a superb job of taking what the defense gives him and if he continues to do that and to not force the ball, the Badgers should come out of this game with a season high in passing yardage.

4) Big day for Davis: As weak as the pass defense is for Northwestern, Wisconsin’s prime offensive objective should be to get Davis back on track. The recipe for success all year has been a strong defense and a punishing running attack — the best way to avoid another upset at the hands of the Wildcats would be to make sure Davis gets at least 30 carries and nets himself at least 150 yards. If Davis is able to run wild on the Wildcats, this game could get ugly.

5) “Just go 1-0”: The Badger mantra this year. All season the Badgers have focused on going 1-0 every week and if that philosophy were ever necessary, it is this week. Fresh off one of the greatest wins in the program’s history, the Badgers have been in the national spotlight all week. If the Badgers are able to block out all the BCS B.S. and just focus on the game at hand, they should overmatch the Wildcats in every phase of the game and head into the bye week 8-0, smelling like roses.