Position-by-position edge: LSU vs. Wisconsin

Before we get into the position matchups in Saturday’s LSU-Wisconsin game at Lambeau Field, let’s get into some intangibles.

As in, home state advantage. The game is in Green Bay,Wis., about two-and-a-half hours from Madison, putting the Badgers closer to their home city than LSU was when the Tigers beat Wisconsin, 28-24, in Houston to start the 2014 season.

On the other hand, LSU owns nonconference games. In the regular season, the Tigers have NEVER lost a nonconference game with Les Miles as the head coach and, overall, have a 52-game winning streak, the longest in the history of the FBS.

That includes about one game a year against a team from another Power 5 conference. The Tigers have beaten Oregon, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Arizona State, Washington and Syracuse, among others.

There are intangibles in favor of both teams. So let’s get into the matchups:

When LSU has the ball

QB Brandon Harris vs. Wisconsin pass defense: The Badgers allowed just 173.2 yards per game in the air last season, seventh-best in the country, while LSU’s pass offense was 105th of 127 FBS teams, averaging just 180.4 yards per game.

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Advantage Wisconsin? Not so fast. The Badgers lost three of the four starting members of their secondary (more on that later) and their top pressure guy in linebacker Joe Schobert (9.5 sacks). LSU returns its quarterback in Harris and top two receivers in Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural. In that regards, this could even out.

Wisconsin still has some pretty good pressure guys in outside linebackers Vince Biegel, who has the talent to approach double-digit sacks this season, and T.J. Watt (J.J.’s younger brother). Given the pressure Wisconsin is able to get, one might conclude the Badgers are a little better defending the pass than LSU is at passing.

EDGE: Wisconsin

RB Leonard Fournette vs. Wisconsin run defense: You have to be otherworldly good to run on a Wisconsin defense that allowed just 95.4 yards per game last year, fourth-best in the nation.

Well, LSU is that good, having the nation’s leader in rushing yards per game in Leonard Fournette (162.8 yards per game). It’s not just Fournette’s talent. Center Ethan Pocic is good enough to give LSU push against even dominant defensive fronts. And Wisconsin’s front is a little bit compromised with an injury that’s keeping 2015 tackle leader T.J. Edwards out of the lineup.

EDGE: LSU

LSU receivers vs. Wisconsin secondary: As mentioned above, LSU’s receivers weren’t nearly as good as the Badgers’ secondary last year, but the fact that Harris’ two favorite targets are back and Wisconsin is breaking in three new secondary starters evens things out.

Badgers star cornerback Sojourn Shelton is good, but at 5-foot-9, he gives up a lot of length against LSU’s tall, lanky receivers. He’ll likely line up much of the night against Dupre, who at 6-foot-4, should be able to use his length effectively against Shelton. The Tigers have tall receivers all over the field with Travin Dural (6-foot-2), D.J. Chark (6-foot-3) and Jazz Ferguson (6-foot-5) among the top four options along with 6-foot-7 tight end Colin Jeter.

But it’s worth noting that neither Chark nor Ferguson have caught a pass in their LSU careers, so the experience edge runs out pretty quickly.

EDGE: Even

When LSU is on defense

QB Bart Houston vs. LSU pass defense: LSU was not great against the pass last season, an odd off year for the program that takes pride in the “DBU” title. But things are pointing to big improvements this year under Dave Aranda, the defensive mastermind who made Wisconsin so solid against the pass with less secondary talent.

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Houston will have to dodge some talented pass-rushers. Lewis Neal was a force last year with 8 sacks, but that was in the 4-3, and it’s unclear if he’ll be able to generate the same numbers in the 3-4. One player whose numbers should improve is outside linebacker Arden Key, who had 5 sacks as a true freshman playing 4-3 defensive end last year.

An intriguing player in the matchup is Badgers left tackle Ryan Ramczyk, a transfer who has wowed his teammates with his athleticism. If he and a veteran Wisconsin offensive line can protect Houston, then this can be a more even matchup.

EDGE: LSU

RB Corey Clement vs. LSU rush defense: Clement looked like the Badgers’ next great back after rushing for 949 yards as a sophomore, but a sports hernia derailed his 2015 season (he gained just 221 yards in four games), and the usually feared Wisconsin rushing offense averaged less than four yards per carry.

Clement is back and healthy, and the Badgers have a veteran offensive line, although the “retirement” of guard Dan Voltz because of injury is a blow.

LSU, meanwhile, has a couple of returning starters up front in Neal and Davon Godchaux but need production from its new tandem of nose guards, veteran career reserve Greg Gilmore and junior college transfer Travonte Valentine. The Tigers suffered a blow with the loss of defensive tackle Christian LaCouture to a knee injury during training camp. The Tigers also return highly regarded middle linebacker Kendell Beckwith, who gives an otherwise unproven group of linebackers a solid senior leader.

EDGE: Even

Wisconsin WRs vs. LSU DBs: Wisconsin lost its best receiver, Alex Erickson, who caught 77 passes for 978 yards last year. Also lost was tight end Austin Traylor. In their place are some guys with decent career statistics (led by Robert Wheelwright, who had 32 receptions last year), but no go-to stars.

LSU, meanwhile, has talent everywhere in the secondonary. Cornerback Tre’Davious White could play his way into the first round of the NFL Draft, and Kevin Toliver will likely be a high pick in the 2018 draft. Safety Jamal Adams is one of the nation’s best at his position. The Tigers enjoy depth in the secondary, particularly at cornerback.

EDGE: LSU

Special Teams

Both have question marks at kicker (Wisconsin’s Raphael Gaglianone hit just 18-of-27 field goals last year, while LSU’s Colby Delahoussaye regained a starting job he lost last season when former starter Trent Domingue transferred).

Both teams will also be breaking in new punters and looking for a spark in the return game. There isn’t much to brag about for either team here, but it sort of evens out.

EDGE: Even.