Notebook: Jared Abbrederis, Chris Borland expected to play; Dan Voltz to start at center vs. BYU

MADISON -- After the Badgers' practice Thursday, head coach Gary Andersen said he expects wide receiver Jared Abbrederis and linebacker Chris Borland to play against BYU on Saturday, but center Dan Voltz will likely start in place of the injured Dallas Lewallen.

Andersen doesn't expect Abbrederis, who left Wisconsin's win last week over Iowa early with an apparent chest or rib injury, to be limited at all in his return. Borland, who has been out with a hamstring injury since the first half of the Illinois game on Oct. 19, went through a full practice Thursday.

"I feel good about him," Andersen said of Borland. "As long as Chris says he feels good, I feel good. He's had a very good week of practice. The only person who took him out of practice this week was me, and I let him go all the way through (Thursday). He'll be ready."

Voltz, a redshirt freshman, was potentially in line for the starting center job in fall camp before an injury set him back and allowed Lewallen to assume the starting role.

"He's ready to go," Andersen said of Voltz. "He's a good center. We're very fortunate to have two good centers. He'll play well. I'm sure he'll do the job. He's a great communicator, and he's had a good, full week of practice."

Fan importance

The Badgers will play their first home game Saturday since their 35-6 blowout of Northwestern Oct. 12.

That game against the Wildcats was actually the closest game in Camp Randall Stadium this season. In four homes games this year, Wisconsin has an average margin of victory of 38.3 points.

BYU, though, may be the toughest opponent to travel to Madison thus far, and Andersen went out of his way Thursday to note how important the crowd will be Saturday.

"Quality opponent coming in here. Should be a great game," Andersen said. "The fans are going to be a big part of this one, especially when (BYU's) offense is on the field. It's going to be big for us to help control the tempo a little bit with our crowd and get them real rowdy and get them a little rattled. To be back at Camp Randall, I know the kids are fired up about that."