Wisconsin’s starting fullback Alec Ingold grew up in the shadow of Lambeau Field.
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Heavy’s Pick: LSU 30 Wisconsin 17.
In 1971, the Tigers traveled to Madison with coach Charles McLendon.
Harris took a step forward last season, putting up 2,165 yards and 13 touchdowns to six interceptions. His run up noth culminated in a dominant performance last season that saw the Badgers finish 1st in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 13.7 points per game and 2nd in total defense allowing just 268 yards per game. The first two meetings were in 1971-72 and the last was in 2014.
The flooding this summer in Baton Rouge provided perspective for the Tigers.
Not only is Wisconsin catching LSU at a bad time given its period of transition while the Tigers remain on the rise, but the Badgers also haven’t beaten them in the all-time series, losing all three games. If it can do that, the Badgers may post a win at Lambeau. Experience could pay off, but the line will need to be a wall against LSU’s defense.
Junior running back Leonard Fournette is without a doubt the most obvious threat for the Wisconsin defense this Saturday. LSU Athletics describes Adams as “one of the top defensive backs in college football heading into the 2016 season, tenacious defender with a knack for always being around the football, plays with a great deal of confidence, emotion and swagger”.
I believe this game will be tough and gritty, but as the game wears on the Tigers depth will prove to be too much for Wisconsin, who don’t quite have as deep a team as they had during the Dave Aranda years. However, Aranda now works under the direction of Les Miles. Aranda’s defense wants to dictate the pace and style of the game to the offense.
As usual, the Wisconsin attack will revolve around the ground game, led by Corey Clement, who missed most of past year through injury. He averages 6.6 yards per carry and is not a player the defense should ignore. While coaches changing teams is a somewhat regular occurrence, losing your coach to your first opponent of the season is much more rare.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30pm. Rules prohibit excessive celebration as well as going into the stands to interact with spectators.
When asked about the Lambeau Leap, you could see Ingold’s face light up. Many players are from Louisiana and some have relatives or friends who were displaced by flood waters. Bart Houston is unproven at the very least, so he’ll need all the help he can get from hist teammate in Clement. That was the last college football game played at Lambeau. Suffice it to say, Houston is going to have his hands full figuring out a Tigers defense that is filled to the gills with stars.
Wisconsin will have one of the Badgers’ best basketball players of all-time cheering it on tomorrow against LSU.
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But how far they go may in large part depend on whether the young line can build on an inconsistent and injury-plagued 2015 season. LSU deserves to be a big favorite, but Wisconsin’s physical style should give the Tigers a good early test to start the season. Still, it makes sense why analysts would choose No. LSU to defeat Wisconsin. Aranda’s linebacker-led defenses were consistently one of the best in the country.
