By Rusty Miller
The Associated Press

NO. 15 WISCONSIN at NO. 18 OHIO STATE

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. today, Ohio Stadium, Columbus. Records: Wisconsin 5-0 (2-0 Big Ten), Ohio State 3-1 (0-1). TV: ABC. Radio: WPFB-AM (910). Series: OSU leads 50-16-5. Line: Ohio State by 4. What to watch: The Badgers' defense is virtually impenetrable, and the Buckeyes' offense can't get anything going. It could be a long day - for the second straight week - for OSU. UW Team stats OSU 315 Offense avg. 327.5 181.8 Avg. by rush 115 133.2 Avg. by pass 212.5 193.2 Defense avg. 307 66.6 Avg. by rush 137.2 126.6 Avg. by pass 169.8 20.2 Avg. pts. for 25 5.2 Avg. pts. against 18.5

COLUMBUS - It is unlikely there will be much misdirection or sleight of hand when No. 15 Wisconsin takes on No. 18 Ohio State today - and that's the way the beleaguered Buckeyes want it.

"Wisconsin is a power football team. They're going to try to test our manhood and see who we are," linebacker Bobby Carpenter said. "Speaking for myself and the rest of the defense, we're not going to let them come into the 'Shoe and push us around."

Still suffering a hangover from their last game, in which Northwestern's spread attack collected 444 yards in a 33-27 upset in overtime, the Buckeyes (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) welcome a return to elemental football.

Wisconsin, which has won its last two games in Ohio Stadium, chooses muscle over subterfuge and technique over magic, both on offense and defense.

"This is the first run-first team we will have played," said Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. "Wisconsin's going to do what they do. A big reason why they're 5-0 is that they have a real solid run game."

Anthony Davis, who missed 3 1/2 games with an eye injury, had 213 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries in last week's 24-7 win over Illinois. Davis needs 6 yards to become the 13th player to rush for 4,000 yards in the Big Ten.

Two weeks ago, fullback Matt Bernstein - all 270 pounds of him - rumbled for 123 yards on 27 carries in a 16-3 win over Penn State (after fasting for 24 hours in observance of Yom Kippur). Seven days before that, Booker Stanley went for 135 yards and a touchdown in a 9-7 win at Arizona.

To coach Barry Alvarez, the game is simple. He doesn't get caught up in all this stuff about past games and emotions.

"It's about playing the game and executing the game and not getting wrapped up in any nonsense," Alvarez said. "There's not enough time for any extracurriculars."

The Badgers also favor a direct approach on defense. They lead the nation in scoring defense (5.2 points a game) and total defense (193.2 yards per game).

Erasmus James, already a two-time defensive player of the week in the Big Ten, leads the conference in sacks. Linebacker Mark Zalewski is eighth in sacks and free safety Jim Leonhard is in the top 10 in passes broken up. With 6 yards in punt returns against Ohio State, Leonhard will become the Big Ten's career leader.