Leading up to this week’s season openers, Saturday Down South breaks down scouting reports for the SEC’s out-of-conference opponents and what makes them click:

WISCONSIN BADGERS
Opens Saturday vs LSU (9 p.m. ET; ESPN)

THE SKINNY: Wisconsin enters the 2014 season with expectations to be a leading contender for the Big 10 Championship. Behind an experienced offensive line and one of the nation’s best running backs in Melvin Gordon, the Badgers will be a ground-and-pound team that tries to push opponents around by winning the line of scrimmage.

KEY PLAYER: The Wisconsin offense starts and ends with running back Melvin Gordon. The redshirt junior is one of the leading candidates for the Doak Walker Award this season after running for 1,609 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. Gordon is a game-changer for the Badgers. Containing him should be LSU’s absolute first priority on defense.

WHAT TO WATCH: It’s always said that the SEC is a line of scrimmage league. Wisconsin may be in the Big 10, but their style of play will emulate most SEC schools. A physical offensive line full of experience will give the Tigers defensive line all they can handle tonight. If the Badgers have their way on the line of scrimmage, Gordon will have a big game and that’ll spell trouble for LSU.

FINAL SAY: This game will feature two of the most talented running backs in the country: Melvin Gordon and LSU true freshman Leonard Fournette. Expect this game to be a low-scoring physical battle. Wisconsin does have Gordon to lean on, but LSU should have the talent at the other positions to exploit the weaknesses of Wisconsin. Les Miles is 3-0 in neutral site season-opening games against ranked opponents. There’s no doubt he’ll have his team ready to go. Can Wisconsin match the LSU’s intensity for 60 minutes? I doubt it.