Wisconsin center Donovan Raiola and Hawai'i nose tackle Michael Lafaele are familiar strangers.

Although they have not met formally, they have extensive knowledge of each other's football skills, having studied videotapes for the past two weeks.

They face each other for the first time today when UH hosts Wisconsin in a nationally televised game.

"They say he's one of the best (centers) in the country," said Lafaele, a converted center. "It's going to be a good matchup for me, to see where I stand nationally, and how well I can play against the big boys."

Lafaele has studied hours of videotapes of Raiola. "I even take film home, and watch it over and over when I have free time," Lafaele said. "He's got good footwork, and he's good with his hands. He's pretty strong, too."

Raiola said of Lafaele: "He's a big guy. He's very stout. He'll be tough to move."

Lafaele said Raiola uses jabs to control the defender. "I have to get my hands on him first, or I have to line up wider or play a little bit off the ball," Lafaele said.

Raiola is concerned about Lafaele's bull-rush moves. "It's going to be a dogfight all game," said Raiola, who has pored over several videotapes of Lafaele. "I'm trying to pick up his tendencies. Watching film helps you become confident in what you do. I try to watch as much film as possible. I'll watch film in the hotel right up to the night of the game."

Here's a closer look:

WISCONSIN OFFENSE

WR—1 Brandon Williams 5-11 175 Sr.

LT—72 Joe Thomas 6-8 303 Jr.

LG—76 Matt Lawrence 6-5 288 Sr.

C—53 Donovan Raiola 6-3 294 Sr.

RG—52 Jason Palmero 6-3 3-7 Sr.

RT—63 Kraig Urbik 6-6 317 Fr.

TE—11 Owen Daniel 6-3 247 Sr.

WR—9 Jonathan Orr 6-3 190 Sr.

QB—7 John Stocco 6-2 197 Jr.

FB—44 Chris Pressley 6-1 256 So.

FB—34 Bill Rentmeester 6-0 249 Fr.

TB—2 Brian Calhoun 5-10 194 Jr.

Outlook: Of all of the items in Calhoun's biography — he's majoring in agricultural journalism, his father is a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy — the most impressive is his 22 touchdowns this season. "He's a great runner," UH defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said. Wisconsin's imposing offensive line (average blocker is 6 feet 5, 301 pounds) and aggressive perimeter players (co-offensive coordinator Paul Chryst coaches the tight ends) use trap blocks and pulls to open running lanes to the outside. The rest is left to the speedy Calhoun, who has sprinted 100 meters in 10.49 seconds. He was the lead runner for Wisconsin's Big Ten champion 400-meter relay team. He also leads the nation with 339 touches — 289 rushes (61 percent of the Badgers' carries) and 50 catches (29 percent of UW's receptions).

WISCONSIN DEFENSE

LE—95 Joe Monty 6-2 252 Jr.

LT—91 Jason Chapman 6-4 280 Fr.

RT—96 Nick Hayden 6-5 302 So.

RE—34 Kurt Ware 6-4 274 So.

SLB—24 LaMarr Watkins 6-1 223 Sr.

MLB—41 Mark Zalewski 6-2 228 Jr.

WLB—14 Dontez Sanders 6-1 208 Sr.

LCB—17 Allen Langford 5-11 187 Fr.

LCB—27 Jack Ikegwuonu 6-1 199 Fr.

SS—16 Joe Stellmacher 6-1 216 Jr.

FS—22 Roderick Rogers 6-2 181 Jr.

RCB—21 Levonne Rowan 6-1 191 Sr.

RCB—6 Brett Bell 6-0 200 Sr.

Outlook: The book on coach Barry Alvarez's defenses ("Football Coaching Strategies," Page 90) is to "play multiple fronts," align in a "zone and man free in the secondary" and "eliminate the big play." The Badgers have had difficulty with the latter this season, allowing 59 plays of at least 20 yards (5.36 per game). The Badgers, who are economical in their blitz calls, will be challenged by UH's four-wide offense. UH quarterback Colt Brennan has completed 39 percent of his long passes (traveling at least 20 yards from the line of scrimmage).

WISCONSIN SPECIALISTS

PK—10 Taylor Mehlhaff 5-11 179 So.

P—94 Ken DeBauche 6-2 219 So.

Outlook: DeBauche leads the Big Ten in punting with a 44.9-yard average. Returner Brandon Williams is effective in running back punts (15.6 yards, ninth in NCAA) and kickoffs (28.2, 11th nationally).

HAWAI'I OFFENSE

LWR—88 Chad Mock 6-0 178 Jr.

LWR—83 Jordan Slye 6-4 210 Jr.

LSB—7 Davone Bess 5-9 187 Fr.

LT—70 Tala Esera 6-4 295 Jr.

LG—64 Samson Satele 6-2 305 Jr.

C—59 Derek Fa'avi 6-1 273 Sr.

RG—66 Brandon Eaton 6-2 295 Sr.

RT—72 Dane Uperesa 6-5 315 Jr.

RSB—1 Ryan Grice-Mullen 5-10 174 Fr.

RWR—82 Ross Dickerson 5-10 185 Jr.

QB—15 Colt Brennan 6-2 190 So.

RB—4 Nate Ilaoa 5-9 229 Sr.

Outlook: In the seventh season of tinkering, UH coach June Jones finally has the personnel to maximize his four-wide passing attack. Bess and Grice-Mullen are sure-handed receivers who use their speed to bust zone defenses on deep routes. Opponents, who usually assign their best cover defenders to the wideouts, sometimes match cornerbacks against the UH slotbacks. "They can stretch the field," Brennan said. "They're such dangerous threats. They create a different type of threat than most teams are used to."

Not only are Bess and Grice-Mullen reliable — they catch every pass with only their hands — they also are elusive after-the-catch runners. Grice-Mullen's yards-after-catch (YAC) average is 6.83; Bess' YAC average is 6.24. In the past five games, Bess has caught 47 passes for 669 yards, the second-best production for a five-game stretch in school history. "I'm more comfortable with the system, more comfortable with the play-calling, more comfortable with reading the coverages," Bess said. Bess' role also could expand. One of UH's four running plays is a slotback reverse.

Ilaoa, who has lost about 20 pounds since the start of training camp, also has developed into a playmaker. Ilaoa's YAC average is 8.78. Against Utah State, he broke an average of 1.8 tackles per play. But he was so winded after each long run that he had only six touches in that game.

HAWAI'I DEFENSE

LE—97 Renolds Fruean 6-4 270 Jr.

NT—67 Michael Lafaele 6-1 310 So.

RE—91 I. Alama-Francis 6-6 250 Jr.

SOLB—45 Tanuvasa Moe 6-0 220 Sr.

SILB—41 S. Elimimian 6-0 225 Fr.

WILB—43 Brad Kalilimoku 5-11 204 So.

WOLB—1 K.Kamakawiwo'ole 6-3 240 Sr.

LCB—24 Kenny Patton 6-0 184 Jr.

SS—15 Lono Manners 5-0 199 Sr.

FS—22 Lamar Broadway 6-0 186 Sr.

RCB—9 Ryan Keomaka 5-10 157 So.

Outlook: The Warriors will learn during warm-ups if left end Melila Purcell III (hyperextended left elbow) will be available to play. The ends are key in defending the Badgers' perimeter running attack. Whether Purcell is ready or not, Fruean will earn his first start at his third position. He also has played nose tackle and right end. Before suffering a badly sprained right ankle in the second game against Michigan State — he measured his recovery at 90 percent — Fruean was effective in sealing gaps. He earned a positive grade in his six face-to-face plays against Michigan State center Chris Morris. "That was a big-time center," Glanville said. "I promise you, (Fruean) was whipping that center. He makes plays for us, even if he can't run. He needs a year to get that ankle well."

Keomaka also steps in for Turmarian Moreland, who is suffering from a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Keomaka, who is the Warriors' fastest available defensive back (4.4 seconds over 40 yards), is playing despite a torn ligament in his right thumb. He will undergo surgery after the season.

HAWAI'I SPECIALISTS

PK—99 Daniel Kelly 6-3 199 Fr.

P—25 Kurt Milne 5-11 208 Jr.

Outlook: Andre Taylor is back as the kick returner, replacing A.J. Martinez, who is recovering from a bruised knee. Taylor promises to sprint toward the openings; his tentative running cost him the kick-return job after five games. It will be more difficult to replace Martinez as a punt returner. The Warriors auditioned several players this week. In the 50-23 victory over Utah State, Bess even returned a punt. Taylor, who returned punts on Wednesday, and Aaron Bain also received tryouts.

"Hopefully we'll get more production out of the return game," said Jeff Reinebold, who coordinates the punt and kickoff returns. "To play against a team like Wisconsin, and to beat 'em, we're going to have to play on a short field. We can't get tackled inside the 20 on kickoffs and not get any production out of the punt-return game."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.