The Associated Press
No. 13 LSU vs. No. 14 WISCONSIN, at Houston, 8:10 p.m. ET, ESPN
Line: LSU by 5
Series Record: LSU leads 2-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
SEC meets Big Ten in a matchup of powerhouses looking for conference titles and more this season. Tigers looking to extend 45-game regular-season winning streak against nonconference opponents, the longest in the FBS. Badgers are 43-3 in nonconference games since 2002 and haven’t lost a season opener since 1997.
KEY MATCHUP
LSU’s young quarterbacks against Wisconsin’s speedier defense. Sophomore Anthony Jennings and freshman Brandon Harris will play for the Tigers, but coach Les Miles is coy about how he’ll rotate them. Jennings played in nine games last year, but Harris showed promise in the spring. The Badgers ranked sixth in scoring defense (16.3 points per game) in 2013, but with eight starters gone, they’ve moved personnel to try to maximize speed.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
LSU: RB Leonard Fournette is the nation’s top running back recruit and could end up as the star in a backfield, even with seniors Terrance Magee and Kenny Hill. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Fournette can back up his bold offseason talk with a big debut on national TV.
Wisconsin: RB Melvin Gordon averages a whopping 8.1 yards per carry to lead active running backs and takes the lead role in the backfield with James White now with the Patriots. Gordon averaged only 16 carries per game last season, yet topped 140 yards rushing in eight of 13 games last season.
FACTS & FIGURES
LSU making first appearance in Houston since 1983 when the Tigers defeated Rice 24-10 at Rice Stadium. … Tigers are opening against a Top-25 opponent under Miles for the fifth time (4-0 in previous games). … LSU opening at a neutral site for fourth time in five seasons. … LSU enters the year ranked for the 14th straight season dating back to 2001. Tigers have been ranked in Top 25 for 82 consecutive weeks. … Texans defensive end J.J. Watt and Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson will represent their respective schools as honorary captains. … Badgers have won 16 consecutive season openers. … Badgers are 0-3 against SEC teams in regular season. Their last game against an SEC foe was a 20-19 loss to Kentucky in 1984.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
