The Pylons -- Wisconsin

A look at the look at the matchup between No. 11 Iowa (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) and Wisconsin (5-1, 2-1).

1. "You give me fever"

That's Peggy Lee, I think. Always something, right? This week the flu hit the Hawkeyes. Heard a lot of starters' names, but don't have anything totally nailed down. My kids have had the H1N1. It's two, maybe two and a half, days of incapacitation and then you're pretty much OK. Timing is everything on this. The earlier in the week, the better. We'll see if everyone shows up for gameday. This flu rumor spread faster than the actual flu.

2. Where you should point the binoculars (besides the UW student section)?

Iowa O-line -- Iowa's O-line is likely where this thing is won or lost. We've been over the circumstances for what might be the reason behind some unexpected huffing and puffing up front. Bryan Bulaga, Kyle Calloway and Julian Vandervelde missed practice time because of injury. Iowa has had trouble settling on a five. Continuity and technique have taken hits. Two freshmen running backs. So, yeah, do what you will with all those factoids. Bottomline, Iowa's O-line, which will include redshirt freshman Riley Reiff again today in some guard form, has to win more than it loses with UW's D-line of DE O'Brien Schofield (this week's Superman), senior DT Dan Moore, sophomore DT Patrick Butrym and senior DT Jeff Stehle and sophomore DE J.J. Watt.

Terrific TE's -- If everyone is healthy, this is a tremendous matchup of teams that really know how to use tight ends. Garrett Graham leads Big Ten tight ends with 27 catches for 303 yards and four TDs. Iowa counters with Tony Moeaki, who, in basically two games, has 17 catches for 192 yards and three TDs. UW's Lance Kendricks gives the Badgers and QB Scott Tolzien a speed option with 13 catches for 143 yards and two TDs.

Chaney replacement -- Upon further review, the junior speedster did a lot for this team. His 28 overall touches (receptions, rushes and kick and punt returns) was third on the team until he tore his ACL in the first half last week. He wasn't a giant role in the offense, save maybe a worth-a-shot reverse option, but he was the punt and kick returner. His absence is a big deal. That said, junior WR Colin Sandeman stepped in nicely last week and averages 10.2 yards on four punt returns this season. He'll be the punt returner and might be one of the kick returners. As far as wideout, the quick conclusion is more looks for freshman Keenan Davis. Maybe, but more likely it'll be more PT for Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Marvin McNutt and Trey Stross. It could expand, but contraction is more likely.

Scoring defense -- This stat might be something, it might be nothing but Iowa is third in the Big Ten and 20th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 15.8 points a game. The Badgers are eighth in the Big Ten at 25.7 points a game and have given up 30 and 28 points to Michigan State and Minnesota.

DL rotation -- No, this doesn't look like the year Iowa is going to rotate defensive linemen. Has Iowa had that year? The most we've been of DT Mike Daniels this season is standing behind Kirk Ferentz on ESPN2's broadcast of Arkansas State and a kick return for 10 yards last week against Michigan. Iowa's second-team D-linemen have accounted for two tackles this season (Daniels and Lebron Daniel). Just thinking out loud here. Will the flu change this up?

3. Who's number _?

We'll go right to the headliner -- O'Brien Schofield is No. 50. He's a defensive end. He leads the nation with 14.5 tackles for loss and leads the Big Ten with 6.5 sacks. Iowa won't be able to handle him one-on-one, so look for max pro with Moeaki, FB Brett Morse or TE Allen Reisner chipping in.

Strongside linebacker Mike Taylor (53) is only a freshman, but he hasn't blinked at any point this year, leading the Badgers with 43 tackles and an impressive 6.5 tackles for loss. This is a good football player.

If he played for Iowa, you'd love safety Chris Maragos (21), a former walk-on. He has a team-high three interceptions this season to go along with three tackles for loss and a sack.

Don't know where he'll factor, but reserve linebacker Chris Borland (44) gets on the field and makes plays. He's got 1.5 sacks and four QB hurries.

If you listened to Kirk Ferentz this week, you'd think QB Scott Tolzien (16) was challenging the Packers Aaron Rodgers for PT. He completes 64 percent of his passes, an impressive number. Ferentz believes he's opened up UW's offense as it hasn't been in several seasons.

Iowa people know RB John Clay (32). He considered the Hawkeyes during recruiting. He leads the Big Ten with 106 yards a game. When this game gets brutally ugly -- and it very well could -- Clay could be the blunt instrument that the Hawkeyes succumb to. But, if Iowa gets him moving laterally, it would nullify the power the 6-1, 248-pounder brings to the game.

WR Nick Toon (1) has emerged as the go-to option outside of Graham, with 26 catches for 322 yards and two TDs.

4. Ferentz's Hubba Bubba falls to the turf if . . .

Iowa's O-line doesn't find a vein of consistency to latch onto this week.

A strong rushing game is the scaffolding for everything a good Iowa team, under Ferentz, is. It drains the clock. It imposes its will. It tells the other team, 'Thanks for stopping by the booth.' It keeps the defense off the field. And it hasn't worked as well as probably expected this season.

Remember the New York Times story with the premise that returning starts were the be-all, end-all. They might be, but if they fight nagging injuries, missed practices and thyroid illnesses, they aren't going to be as effective.

When Ferentz says better days are ahead for this unit, it makes sense. Bulaga and Calloway haven't found their strides. Julian Vandervelde is still playing catch up (pectoral surgery). C Rafael Eubanks and RG Dace Richardson are back from a year and two-year absences.

This is approaching broken record, I know, but when you see QB Rick Stanzi unleash something crazy, the root of the mistake can be found in the O-line. The breakdowns in protection are obvious, but there's also the fact that Stanzi is feeling the pressure to carry this offense. It's a big responsibility and he needs all the help he can get.