Wisconsin @ Louisiana State preview

LSU will try to run its nation-best non-conference winning streak to 46 games when the No. 13 Tigers meet No. 14 Wisconsin in the season opener for both teams Saturday night. LSU, which hasn’t lost out of conference since its season opener against Virginia Tech in 2002, has won 11 straight openers since, while the Badgers have won their last 15 season debuts. Neither team has a clear-cut No. 1 starter at quarterback, but the the strength for both sides lies in their running games anyway. LSU returns its second-leading rusher in Terrence Magee and he’ll be supported by fellow senior Kenny Hilliard and hard-running freshman Leonard Fournette, who was considered the top high school ball carrier in the nation last season.

Wisconsin figures to lean heavily on running back Melvin Gordon, a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate who ran for 1,609 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 7.8 yards a carry last fall. Badgers coach Gary Andersen remained mum earlier in the week on the starting quarterback for the opener, but Gordon let it slip that Tanner McEvoy would be behind center after starting three games at safety and appearing in 11 overall for Wisconsin last season. LSU coach Les Miles has confirmed that sophomore Anthony Jennings, who started the Outback Bowl victory last winter in place of injured two-year starter Zach Mettenberger, would split time at quarterback with freshman Brandon Harris.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: LSU -5.

ABOUT WISCONSIN (2013: 9-4): The Badgers will have some significant holes to fill on defense, most notably with their front seven that lifted Wisconsin to No. 5 in the nation against the run last season. The closest thing the Badgers have to an experienced linebacker is senior Derek Landisch, who started two games last season and appeared in all 13, finishing eighth on the team in tackles with 33. The leader on the defensive side of the ball appears to be sophomore cornerback Sojourn Shelton, who led Wisconsin with four interceptions and eight passes defensed last season.

ABOUT LSU (2013: 10-3): The Tigers will need to replace two defensive tackles and two linebackers, leaving their most experienced players in the secondary. Tre’Davious White and Rashard Robinson started two of the last three games at cornerback together and hope to continue LSU’s streak of finishing in the top 30 in the nation in pass defense each of the last five years. The three players up front who will be counted on to stop Gordon and the Wisconsin run game are Danielle Hunter, Christian LaCouture and Jermauria Rasco.

EXTRA POINTS

1. LSU safety Jalen Mills, who started his first 26 games for the Tigers before he was arrested in June and charged with misdemeanor battery, is expected to play against Wisconsin after coming off suspension earlier this month.

2. Wisconsin is opening its season against a ranked opponent for the first time since 1997.

3. The Badgers are 34-2 against regular-season non-conference opponents in the last 10 years.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 24, LSU 21