By Frank Haynes, College Football Senior Editor

GAME NOTES: Seeking their 24th consecutive Big Ten opening victory, the 14th- ranked Michigan Wolverines pull into Madison for Saturday's clash with the undefeated Wisconsin Badgers. Lloyd Carr's Wolverines are fresh off a dominating 55-0 pasting of local rival Eastern Michigan and bring a 2-1 record into this contest. The team's only setback thus far was a 17-10 loss to visiting Notre Dame on September 10th. Michigan kicks off its 100th season of Big Ten competition and will try to claim its league-leading 43rd conference championship. As for Wisconsin, it opened the season with a pair of offensive explosions, scoring 56 and 65 points, respectively, in wins over Bowling Green and Temple. The Badgers played their first road game of the campaign last week at North Carolina, and prevailed in a hard-fought battle, 14-5. Wisconsin has won eight straight home games and 13 of its last 16 at Camp Randall Stadium, but hasn't beaten Michigan since a 31-19 decision in Ann Arbor back on October 29, 1994. The Wolverines own a commanding 47-10-1 edge in the all-time series with the Badgers, including a 19-3-1 mark in Madison.

The Michigan offense ran into very little resistance last week against Eastern Michigan, rolling up 446 total yards and 55 points in giving coach Carr his 60th career home victory. Sophomore Max Martin, starting in place of injured RB Mike Hart, had a career day with 117 yards and two TDs. Senior WR Jason Avant also reached the end zone twice, doing so on eight catches for 93 yards, while QB Chad Henne went 13-of-19 for 147 yards and three scores. As a result of that impressive offensive output, the Maize and Blue climbed to ninth in the Big Ten with an average of 416.3 ypg. Ball control has been UM's claim to fame thus far, averaging more than 33 minutes in time of possession per game. Henne has been solid, if unspectacular, through the first three games, hitting 55.3 percent of his pass attempts for 199.0 ypg with six TDs and just one INT. Hart, the defending Big Ten rushing champion, has been hobbled by a hamstring injury and relegated to just 121 yards and a TD thus far. The team's leading rusher is Kevin Grady with 151 yards, while Avant is clearly the top option down the field, hauling in a league-best 22 balls for 310 yards and three scores.

The Wolverine defense held Eastern Michigan to a mere 134 total yards last week, including just 15 on the ground. Making eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage, Michigan simply dominated play in the trenches and wouldn't allowed EMU to get into any kind of offensive rhythm. Grant Mason, who sits third in the Big Ten in total tackles with 30, and LaMarr Woodley led the way with six tackles apiece, while David Harris was credited with three PBUs. For the season, the Wolverines are allowing just 11.3 ppg, the top mark in the Big Ten. Their effort against the pass has been top-notch, with foes permitted only 153.0 ypg. Despite coming up with just one turnover against the Eagles, Michigan is tied for the top turnover margin in the Big Ten, laying claim to a +4 coming into this contest. Wisconsin represents the best offensive team the Wolverines have seen thus far, and it will be interesting to see how they respond.

As just mentioned, the Badgers have shown this year that chewing up yards and putting points on the board is one of their strong suits. Coach Barry Alvarez and his staff have the UW offense churning out more than 272 ypg on the ground in scoring a gaudy 45.0 ppg. The passing attack is another story, however, as QB John Stocco is throwing for just 144 ypg in hitting his mark 65.4 percent of the time. He has four TD passes against just one INT, but make no mistake, this is a running team first and foremost. Brian Calhoun has made the most of his first year in Madison after transferring in from Colorado, as he currently ranks second in the Big Ten in rushing (157.0 ypg), while sitting first in the nation in scoring (eight TDs for 48 points). Calhoun, who shredded the Bowling Green defense for 258 yards and five TDs in the season opener, did nearly the same versus North Carolina last week, logging 171 yards and two scores.

The Wisconsin defense has held its last two opponents without a TD after allowing a whopping six TDs to Bowling Green in the opener. The Badgers currently rank sixth in the conference in scoring defense (15.7 ppg) and second in rushing defense (39.7 ypg). Getting pressure on the QB has been one of the primary reasons for the team's early success, as UW is tied with Penn State for the most sacks in the league with 12. The Badgers have also done a remarkable job of limiting the opposition when it comes to third-down conversions, yielding just a 27.7 percent success rate. Last week against the Tar Heels, Joe Stellmacher collected 11 tackles and Mark Zalewski added seven. Nick Hayden had two of the team's six sacks as four different defenders made at least two stops behind the line of scrimmage. Through three games, Dontez Sanders leads the team with 16 stops, while Zalewski is hot on his heels with 15, including four TFLs. Hayden and Kurt Ware each have three sacks. Turnovers haven't come easy for the Badgers, who have three fumble recoveries but have yet to pick off a pass here in the early going.

This should be a physical battle from the outset with both teams trading blows throughout. The energy the Badgers will have feeding off the home crowd can't be minimized, but Michigan is the better all-around team. Expect the Wolverines to line up tight to the line on defense in an effort to stop Calhoun, daring Stocco to beat them through the air. On the other side, balance will be the key to Michigan's offensive attack and that should prove to be the difference in a hard-fought win.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Michigan 24, Wisconsin 20