Fiesta Bowl: #23 Liberty vs #8 Oregon Odds, and Picks (Jan 1)

• Liberty capped off a 13-0 season with a 49-35 win in the C-USA title game.
• Oregon came up short against Washington once again, missing out on the CFP.
• This matchup will be the first time in program history that these two teams face off.

The college football season is at its peak! Let’s preview the 2023 Fiesta Bowl between the Liberty Flames and the Oregon Ducks. Liberty made a NY6 bowl after going 13-0, and will now face their toughest test.

How to Watch

• ESPN

Preview

Liberty defeated New Mexico State, 49-35, in the Conference USA title game, improving to 13-0 on the season. Despite their perfect record, the Flames were in danger of missing out on the Group of 5’s NY6 bowl bid. That danger evaporated when Tulane lost to SMU in their title game, opening the path for Liberty to claim a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. They’ll aim to upset Oregon here, and finish the year at a perfect 14-0.

Oregon had an excellent season, but just could not overcome Washington in the Pac-12. They went 11-0 against all other opponents, winning those games by an average score of 46-14. Unfortunately, their 0-2 record against the Huskies was enough to keep them out of a competitive CFP race. Instead, the Ducks will take on a scrappy Liberty team with something to prove, hoping to end the season on a positive note.

Prediction

The NY6 bowl that features a Group of Five team is always fun to watch, as it allows a smaller program that has been flying under the radar to prove doubters wrong and topple a giant. Last season, Tulane pulled off just that after defeating USC. Liberty is a much larger underdog in this game. While I believe they are far better than people think, Oregon is a brutal matchup for them. I’ll take the Ducks to win it.

NCAAF Picks:

• Oregon 43, Liberty 28 ()