ESPN College GameDay 2016: Week 1 Schedule, Location, Predictions and More

ESPN's College GameDay crew had plenty of marquee games to choose from to kick off the 2016 college football season, landing on historic Lambeau Field for an encounter between the No. 5 LSU Tigers and the Wisconsin Badgers.

With Alabama vs. USC, Florida State vs. Ole Miss, Clemson vs. Auburn and Notre Dame vs. Texas also on tap to kick off the season, the fact College GameDay chose Green Bay added a heightened sense of importance to the clash between the SEC and Big Ten teams. ESPN producer Lee Fitting spoke with Rachel Margolis Siegal about the venue's importance.

“Lambeau Field is hailed as a football shrine and is as special of a venue as the game of football has to offer,” Fitting said. “It is an honor to be able to stage College GameDay from Lambeau as we kick off this opening weekend filled with top-caliber games.”

The normal crew—headlined by Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and David Pollack—will lead the festivities before a new three-man crew of Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Todd McShay takes over announcing duties during the game.

Howard took to Facebook to post a hype video:

Let's take a look at everything to know about the perfect way to start the season.

ESPN College GameDay: Week 1 Info 

Date: Saturday

Time (ET): 9 a.m. to noon

Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Watch: ESPN   

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Preview

Expect Saturday's high-profile encounter to be a bit of a chess match after a feeling-out period between the two sides.

These two programs are familiar with each other, especially because LSU head coach Les Miles stole Dave Aranda from the Badgers over the offseason and placed him as defensive coordinator in charge of a new 3-4 scheme.

Considering Wisconsin ranked No. 1 in defense by coughing up an average of 13.7 points per game last year, it's a major boon for Miles' team and also helps explain why LSU sits as a 9.5-point favorite, as reported by Odds Shark.

Aranda gets to give his new defense a test run against a Wisconsin team that is breaking in a new quarterback under center. Bart Houston hardly locked down the starting gig before the contest, though he is a fifth-year senior who stuck with the program instead of transferring.

As usual, the Wisconsin attack will revolve around the ground game, led by Corey Clement, who missed most of last year through injury. His best campaign came in 2014, when he ran for 949 yards and nine scores on 6.5 yards per carry, so Wisconsin will look to get him going early now he's back on the field.

On the topic of running backs, Saturday's encounter focuses on LSU's Leonard Fournette, the NFL-ready back who last year captured the minds of collegiate football fans with his 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns on 6.5 yards per carry.

College Football 24/7 shared just how much opposing defenses aren't looking forward to seeing Fournette this season:

The continued development of quarterback Brandon Harris won't make things easier on Wisconsin, either.

Harris took a step forward last season, putting up 2,165 yards and 13 touchdowns to six interceptions. Should the junior make another similar leap, Miles will have a more balanced attack on his hands.

Prediction

Las Vegas has the right bead on this one. 

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.

Saturday is the fourth. Wisconsin has to break in a new quarterback against a defense with NFL talent. And while the Badgers defense should be formidable, Fournette is arguably the best player in the country. If he somehow struggles, Harris could go up over the top to wideout Malachi Dupre.

Expect a grind-it-out affair before LSU opens it up in the second half.

Prediction: LSU 30, Wisconsin 17

Stats and information via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.