Wisconsin has had some close calls traveling west with late wins at Fresno State in 2008 and UNLV in 2007. Wisconsin hopes it doesn't wilt in the desert in this series, which has had its share of weirdness. The lights went out at Sam Boyd Stadium in 2002 and the Rebels beat the Badgers in Madison as 20-point underdogs in 2003.
Wisconsin LB Culmer St. Jean vs. UNLV RB/WR Channing Trotter. The 5-foot-8 Trotter can do it all, even though he's in competition for a starting role in camp. St. Jean is coming off an ankle injury, but if he can locate and stop the quick Trotter, Wisconsin's defense should be able to get off the field.
Wisconsin: RB John Clay. Clay isn't expected to get a full workload in his first game since having offseason surgery on both ankles, but the Big Ten's leading rusher last year likely will be out there long enough to gain 100 yards against a defense that was one of the worst in the nation last year.
UNLV: DE Issako Aaitui. It's the key matchup, part two. Aaitui has made it a point to talk about needing to stop Wisconsin's powerful running attack. Big Ten opponents will tell Aaitui that saying you're going to slow Clay and actually bringing the 255-pound workhorse is another matter. Stopping Clay puts more pressure on QB Scott Tolzien, who threw for 2,705 yards in '09.
The temperature is predicted to be 105 degrees before "cooling" into the low 80s at night. ... UNLV's new coach, Bobby Hauck, reached three FCS championship games with Montana before taking over the Rebels in the offseason. ... Wisconsin returns 10 starters on offense but has only 13 seniors. ... It's the seventh matchup between the programs in the past 15 years. ... Wisconsin's band fell about $50,000 short of fundraising and won't make the trip.
