ReliaQuest Bowl: Wisconsin vs #13 LSU Odds, and Picks (Jan 1)

• Wisconsin closed out the year at 7-5, after another average season.
• LSU missed the CFP, but QB Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy.
• These two teams last met on September 3, 2016, in a game Wisconsin won 16-14.

The college football season has reached its peak! Let’s preview the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl between the Wisconsin Badgers and the LSU Tigers. LSU will aim for their 10th win, while Wisconsin tries to play spoiler.

How to Watch

• ESPN2

Preview

Wisconsin fell short of preseason expectations once again this season, finishing at 7-5 after opening the year ranked #19. Despite changes in the coaching staff and at QB, the Badgers had a very similar result to last season. They went 3-4 in the second half of the year, but also won their last two games. They’ll aim to build on those 2 wins in this game. Wisconsin’s solid defense will give them a real shot to claim the upset.

LSU finished the year at 9-3, just barely missing out on a NY6 bowl berth as the #13 team. Despite that, the Tigers played an excellent season. Their three losses came against #4 Alabama, #5 Florida State, and #11 Ole Miss, and all three games where played away from home. Meanwhile, they also have a top-10 win against Missouri. LSU’s ability to win this game will come down to if star QB Jayden Daniels plays or not.

Prediction

Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels has yet to make a decision on whether he will opt out of this game to avoid the risk of injury before entering the NFL Draft. Many top QBs are, but Daniels is still considering playing after a phenomenal season. Regardless of if he plays, this is an unbalanced matchup. With Daniels, the Tigers should win and cover the spread. Without him, they should still win, but by a smaller margin.

NCAAF Picks:

• LSU 26, Wisconsin 17 ()