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Hill, Wisconsin visit Fresno State in tough matchup

Sep 13, 2008 - 10:01 AM No. 10 Wisconsin (2-0) at No. 21 Fresno State (1-0), 10:30 p.m. EDT

FRESNO, California (Ticker) -- P.J. Hill and Wisconsin have enjoyed the friendly confines of Camp Randall Stadium in their first two games this season. The Badgers figure to have a tough time in their first trip outside the Badger State.

Hill and 10th-ranked Wisconsin play their first road game of the season Saturday night when they visit No. 21 Fresno State in an inter-conference battle.

The Badgers (2-0) have won their first two games - both at home - by a combined margin of 89-31. The catalyst in both of those contests has been Hill, who has rushed for 267 yards and four touchdowns.

Wisconsin got off to an extremely slow start against Marshall last weekend before rolling for 51 unanswered points in a 51-14 victory.

Despite rushing for just 57 yards, Hill scored two key touchdowns to help the Badgers build a 10-point lead. Quarterback Allan Evridge picked up the slack by passing for 308 yards and a TD for Wisconsin, which improved to 16-0 at home under coach Bret Bielema.

Wisconsin will not be able to afford another poor start against the Bulldogs (1-0), who have not played since a 24-7 victory over Rutgers on September 1.

"I know they're a team that plays tough," Wisconsin fullback Chris Pressley said. "They try to beat their opponents by just saying, 'We're going to play more physical and tougher than you are.' We have to go out there and just be hard-nosed and play hard-nosed football."

"I think they are a defense that plays with great energy," Evridge added. "They're very sound with what they do and they play hard. They're a tough, hard-nosed team and we try to be the same."

The Bulldogs also used a powerful ground game in their impressive win in Piscataway on Labor Day. Ryan Mathews rushed for 163 yards and three second-half touchdowns for Fresno State, which posted its 13th victory over a BCS conference team since 2000.

Fresno State's opportunistic defense yielded 369 yards of total offense but forced two turnovers in the game.

That defense will focus on slowing down a Wisconsin rushing attack that has amassed 562 yards on the ground over the first two games.

The Badgers also hope to have injured star tight end Travis Beckum back in the lineup. Placed on the preseason Mackey Award Watch list, Beckum missed the first two games with a hamstring injury.

Wisconsin and Fresno State have not played since August 23, 2002 - when the Badgers posted a 23-21 victory. The Bulldogs won the only previous meeting between the schools.