What chances do the Badgers have of pulling off the upset against USC?

The Wisconsin Badgers have a tough matchup on Saturday as they take on the USC Trojans on the road, where they are currently considered underdogs by more than two touchdowns in Week 5.

Wisconsin is 2-1 after a bye week this year but faces a quarterback change with Braedyn Locke taking over for the remainder of the year.

Ahead of this weekend's match, our weekly roundtable is back where we answer three big questions about the Badgers.

How important is this USC game for the Badgers?

Rohan: It's important… but it's also not to the extent that many Badgers fans think. Wisconsin needs to show something different after its Week 3 loss as it had a full week to prepare for the upcoming matchup.

But Wisconsin enters this game as a clear underdog and has no real answer to some of the problems USC will present, such as the running game on defense.

So if the Badgers show a little more than expected, that's definitely a good sign. However, if they lose by multiple points, that's not the be-all and end-all, as Wisconsin was expected to lose that way and still has a number of chances ahead of it to secure bowl eligibility, which this year should be the goal.

Scary: Wisconsin would almost certainly be an underdog in this game even if they had beaten Alabama, so a loss would never be crippling. But what that loss looks like will matter.

Fickell will want to see some fight from his team in LA on Saturday, no matter who wins. So if the Badgers get pushed around by the Trojans en route to a loss, that's a bad sign for the rest of the season.

But if Bucky plays all four quarters, it will be a big statement: “We can keep up with the big boys.” I'm very excited to see how this team does.

Connor: I think this game, win or lose, sets the tone for the rest of the season. It's different than last season when Locke came because we knew Tanner Mordecai was coming back. I want to see how he adapts after the two weeks of training with the first team.

I also think playing ranked opponents like this will help them prepare for away games early in the season against teams they will only be slight favorites against. So I think this game is one of the most important contests of the season for Wisconsin.

What are you looking for in this Wisconsin game?

Rohan: I want to see them begin to move toward some form of identity. The Badgers currently don't have one and their coaching staff allowed it after the Alabama game two weeks ago. Wisconsin has a good offensive line and a variety of talented running backs. If the run game is their biggest focus, that should come into play against a USC team that struggled with the run last week.

If the passing game continues to be the focus, I want offensive coordinator Phil Longo to put Braedyn Locke in position to succeed. That could mean more zone runs with 11-on-11 football, more tempo and larger windows in the middle of the field. But you have to make your quarterback comfortable otherwise; He will struggle with the upcoming schedule this year.

Defensively, I want Wisconsin to have some sort of pass rush. USC's offensive line is banged up and vulnerable to pressure. However, the Badgers have failed to score a single goal all season, and that will be a real litmus test this weekend as to where the team's pass rushers currently stand.

Scary: As I suggested above, I want to see a fight. Based on talent alone, USC should win pretty comfortably. So if the Badgers struggle and make things difficult for Miller Moss and Co., that would be a promising sign.

On the other hand, if Wisconsin is put in its place, the growing band of fans who have convinced themselves that Fickell is on the wrong path will only grow louder. This is a real gut-check game for this program and I really hope they respond.

Connor: I'm looking for a game plan that really focuses on the football, but also allows Braedyn Locke to find Will Pauling or CJ Williams in the middle of the field for an easy checkdown. I hope to see a similar performance to Illinois last season in the game following the loss of Tanner Mordecai, which is a similar situation to Tyler Van Dyke this year.

I'm also curious to see if they lean on a player like Cade Yacamelli in this game, who has been by far the most explosive Badger running back this season. Michigan backup running back Kalel Mullings stole the show on CBS against USC, and Yacamelli has a chance to do the same this Saturday.

What chance do you give the Badgers to pull off an upset?

Rohan: The formula for success is there. Michigan put it on tape last week when it played at will against USC's defense en route to a 27-24 win. However, I just don't have enough faith in the Badgers defense to be able to stop them in time. They struggled to generate pressure and defend the run, allowing teams to move the chains. USC will likely do the same and have the home field advantage here, so the likelihood of an upset is pretty low to me.

Scary: Pulling USC out of an emotional loss could happen in two very different ways: I'm hoping the Trojans come into the game a little depressed and unfocused, which would give the Badgers a mental advantage.

Of course, a must-win game after a devastating L could produce a fiery and malevolent USC, which would be a bad thing for Wisconsin. In any case, I don't see a clear path to victory for us here.

If we play hard, smart and clean – a triad we've rarely seen under Fickell – there's a chance of keeping it close. I just don't see it. There is probably about a 20% chance of winning for Wisconsin.

Connor: I'm more optimistic than most because Michigan quarterback Alex Orji only threw 11 times in the entire game and the Wolverines still found a way to win. I would give Wisconsin about a 30% chance of being upset considering the entire USC team is pretty banged up after the physical matchup in Ann Arbor.

Additionally, Wisconsin's only strength on offense this season has been its running game. I think it's very likely that Wisconsin covers the spread because 15.5 points is a lot and because USC could be sluggish with a close loss and some question marks when it comes to injured players.

If Wisconsin can contain Miller Moss with edge rushers and interior linemen like John Pius and Elijah Hills, this game could very easily be a close one early in the 4th quarter. I think USC will win in the end, but you can't completely ignore the Badgers in this matchup because of the potential for an upset.