Position edge: LSU vs. Louisville in Citrus Bowl

LSU can go a long way in salvaging the 2016 season with a victory over No. 13 Louisville (9-3) in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on Saturday in Orlando.

In a year that saw their coach fired, their best player injured for the latter part of the season, and a new quarterback take the reins, the No. 20 Tigers (7-4) can grab the spotlight and return to legitimacy by taking down Louisville’s Heisman Trophy quarterback in the 11 a.m. ET kickoff.

Here’s a closer look at some key matchups for Saturday’s game:

WHEN LSU HAS THE BALL

Danny Etling vs. Louisville pass defense: Yes, Etling turned in a career-high 324-yard passing performance in his last game, a 54-39 victory over Texas A&M. But in a larger sample size, and against far better defenses, Etling finished just seventh in the SEC averaging 190.6 passing yards per game. Louisville’s pass defense isn’t bad. The Cardinals ranked fifth in the ACC yielding an average of 206.3 passing yards per contest.

Clemson’s Deshaun Watson threw for 306 yards against the Cardinals, however, and Stephen Johnson torched them for 352 in Kentucky’s shocking upset to end the regular season.

EDGE: Louisville

LSU running backs vs. Louisville run defense: Without the injured Leonard Fournette, Derrius Guice has emerged as one of the better backs in the country. Averaging 113.55 yards per game, Guice is second in the SEC, and his 14 rushing touchdowns are also second in the conference behind Mississippi State QB Nick Fitzgerald (16), who has also played in two more games than Guice. He’ll be difficult to contain, even for the Cardinals’ run defense, which ranked fourth in the ACC after giving up an average of 110 yards per game.

EDGE: LSU

LSU receivers vs. Louisville secondary: Malachi Dupre and D.J. Chark have combined for 58 pass receptions and 873 yards (6 TDs). Those aren’t overly impressive numbers for the NFL-level of talent they possess. The pair will find open spaces in the Louisville secondary. Whether the football finds its way to them on a consistent basis is the question.

EDGE: LSU

WHEN LOUISVILLE HAS THE BALL

Lamar Jackson vs. LSU pass defense: Jackson ranked fourth in the ACC in passing, averaging 282.5 yards per game. LSU, on the other hand, ranked fourth in the SEC against the pass, yielding an average of 201.2 yards per game. The Tigers were also fourth in the SEC in sacks, averaging 2.55 per game. The Tigers have recorded at least one sack in each game this season and in only one game did they have fewer than two sacks (Alabama).

But the SEC doesn’t have anybody quite like Jackson, who threw for 3,390 yards and 30 touchdown passes — four more than any SEC QB.

LSU piled up a season-high six sacks against Mississippi State. It will have plenty of opportunities to make more plays; Louisville surrendered an ACC-high 39 sacks.

Tigers DE Arden Key, second in the SEC in sacks with 10, will be a major factor in that department Saturday.

EDGE: Louisville

Louisville running game vs. LSU run defense: While the Tigers will be hard-pressed to keep Jackson’s passing game in check, it will be virtually impossible to stop a running game he fuels.

He ran for 21 touchdowns this season, fourth in the country.

Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

The Tigers ranked second in the SEC against the run, giving up an average of just 121.82 yards per game. But Jackson becomes the X factor. The ACC’s second-leading rusher (1,538 yards) could wreak havoc with the Tigers’ defense and he’s a threat to go the distance on any play.

He had at least one rush of 35 or more yards in nine games. He tied for the national lead with 13 carries of 30-plus yards.

EDGE: Louisville

Louisville receivers vs. LSU pass defense: Tre’Davious White and company will be tested. But LSU has proven up to the task, holding opposing teams to under-250 yards passing in each game this season until the regular season finale against Texas A&M (284). If they can get sure-tackler CB Donte Jackson to cover somebody … anybody … the Tigers should clamp down on Cardinals receivers.

Cole Hikutini, a 6-5 senior tight end, is an NFL prospect and one of Jackson’s preferred targets. He leads the Cardinals in catches (49) and TD catches (8) and is second in yards (656).

EDGE: LSU

SPECIAL TEAMS

Louisville freshman punter Mason King is among the best in the nation averaging 42.74 per attempt. Field goal kicker Blanton Creque has been called on more often — and produced — more than LSU’s Colby Delahoussaye, who is just 9-for-12.

LSU kickoffs can’t reach the end zone. Neither team is exceptionally dangerous in the return game, somewhat surprising given their athleticism.

EDGE: Louisville