WISCONSIN Alvarez downplays Buckeyes showdown

The No. 23 Badgers welcome No. 3 Ohio State for a Saturday night matchup.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Ohio State is the defending national champion, undefeated and riding the nation's longest winning streak.
Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said the worst thing he can do is treat Saturday's game like something special.
Alvarez said Monday the No. 23 Badgers will be jacked up enough for third-ranked Ohio State and won't need any extra motivation, not with the rare home night game for Wisconsin to be broadcast on national television.
"Probably the worst thing a coach could do is make a big deal out of it," Alvarez said Monday at his weekly news conference. "It's a big enough deal."
While Alvarez won't have to worry about Wisconsin's emotions Saturday, he's got plenty of questions about his players' health.
While Ohio State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) is coming off its open week, Wisconsin (5-1, 2-0) could use a little break.
Minor injuries
Tailbacks Anthony Davis and Dwayne Smith are nicked up, as is linebacker Jeff Mack. Alvarez said all three wore protective boots Sunday, with Davis still trying to shake off a sprained ankle he suffered three weeks ago. He played in just the first half against Penn State before reinjuring the ankle.
Alvarez said he "couldn't answer that if I wanted to" when asked Monday who might be ready to go in the backfield against Ohio State, with the best run defense in the country. The Buckeyes have given up just 217 yards in five games, an average of 43.4 yards per contest.
"We've been nicked up. We've been a team down to your third tailback in a couple of games," Alvarez said.
Still, that third tailback hasn't been all that shabby. Booker Stanley rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown against Penn State, playing mostly in the second half.
Alvarez also expects another close game with Ohio State. The Badgers lost 19-14 last year after having several opportunities late in the game to win.
That game fit a pattern Ohio State has built over the past two seasons of pulling out close games late to keep its 19-game winning streak alive. Ten of those wins have been by a touchdown or less.
But Alvarez doesn't think the Buckeyes have just been lucky.
"A lucky team that wins and a team that's very well-coached that wins at the end are the same team, because somebody coached them to be lucky," Alvarez said.