Each week, AnnArbor.com chats with a beat writer/radio personality from the team Michigan is facing.

This week, we welcome Jim Polzin of The Capital Times. After you're done reading this, check out Polzin's work on the Badgers.

Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien has thrown 10 touchdown passes this season. (Photo: Associated Press)

Jim Polzin: The Badgers had some young talent in the program and a favorable schedule, but you're right, quarterback play was going to make or break this season. And Scott Tolzien, save for five interceptions he threw in the two games Wisconsin lost, has been better than anybody expected. Wisconsin is lacking in the marquee victory department, but it won games against Fresno State, Michigan State and Minnesota that were pretty much considered coin-flip games going in.

MR: How good is John Clay? Where does he compare to some of the other Wisconsin running backs of years past?

JP: Clay isn't there yet. It's sometimes easy to forget that he's just a sophomore and this is his first season of starting. So much was expected of him before he even stepped foot in Madison because he was labeled as the best running back this state has ever produced. Two things stand out to me that weren't apparent last season: 1) He's a more complete back; and 2) He's shown the willingness to play through pain.

MR: What is the disaster scenario for this team Saturday? What needs to happen that causes them to lose to Michigan?

JP: The interesting matchup to me is Michigan's productive running game against Wisconsin's rushing defense. The Badgers have yet to allow a team to go over 100 yards in Big Ten play. If Michigan can get its running game going, that could spell trouble for the Badgers, because they've had difficulty stopping the pass in all but two games.

MR: Defensively, Wisconsin's linebackers seem to be disciplined. Is that pretty accurate? Is that the strength of the Badgers?

JP: The funny thing is, linebacker was one of the big question marks on defense going into the season. I'd still say the two starting defensive ends, O'Brien Schofield and J.J. Watt, are the strengths. But the linebacker play has been better than expected, and two big reasons for that are Mike Taylor, who was having a great freshman season until suffering a season-ending knee injury a few weeks ago, and Chris Borland, a true freshman who has been nothing short of spectacular this season.

MR: What needs to go well for Wisconsin for them to win this game?

JP: The sarcastic side of me says that if Wisconsin jumps out to a 19-0 halftime lead, it's in trouble. In all seriousness, this is very much like the Wisconsin teams of old that liked to pound, pound, pound the ball on the ground and ultimately play keep away from the other team. What cost the Badgers against Ohio State was allowing three touchdowns on returns (two interception, one kickoff). What cost the Badgers against Iowa was three interceptions. I like Wisconsin's chances if it stays away from turnovers and special teams breakdowns.

MR: How much do they remember last year's game against Michigan? Is that a big motivational thing for the Badgers this week?

JP: It absolutely is. I still say the more damaging loss came the next week, when Wisconsin blew a late lead at home against Ohio State. That loss, combined with the one against Michigan, sent the Badgers into a tailspin. But the Michigan loss still stings for the players and coaches because it's not often this program gets a chance to beat the Wolverines, and the Badgers blew it.