Wisconsin vs. LSU ReliaQuest Bowl predictions: Odds preview, game and player props, best betting tips

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Wake up on New Year’s Day and get ready for a football feast starting with the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa between the rowdy Tigers of LSU and rough Wisconsin Badgers and use our special football promo codes to start your year off right.

Kickoff is at 11 a.m. CT from Raymond James Stadium.

Read on for our in-depth preview and best bets on the New Year’s Day Six clash between SEC and Big Ten powers.

2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU opted out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft where he’s a certain first-round pick.

Daniels hands the keys over of the nation’s best scoring offense (46.4 points a game) to redshirt sophomore Garrett Nussmeier, who was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and has played significant snaps since arriving at LSU. He appeared in five games this season, mostly in mop-up duty for the 9-3 Tigers.

Nussmeier will have talented targets to throw to. LSU boasts the best 1-2 combination of wide receivers in the nation in Malik Nabors, who led the nation in receiving yards at 1,546, and Brian Thomas Jr. who led the country with 15 touchdown receptions.

With all that talent, you may wonder how LSU finished 9-3 and in Tampa on New Year’s Day? Look no further than a poor defense that was 93rd against the run and 102nd against the pass.

Wisconsin will be without leading rusher Braelon Allen and two good receivers in Chimere Dike and Skyler Bell, who entered the portal, but will have a significant edge at QB in sixth-year senior Tanner Mordecai.

LSU is anywhere from a 9.5 to 10-point favorite – it actually went up after Daniels opted out - with the total ranging from 55.5 to 56 points.

What a great clash of styles in sunny Tampa on New Year’s Day morning. Wisconsin is built on a powerful running game behind a big offensive line, while LSU likes to throw and go.

Mordecai will use his experience to keep this game closer than people think. Wisconsin should have no problem moving the Tigers’ defensive line off the ball and creating lanes to run. They should be able to score.

You know LSU will score. Nussmeier is a quality back-up who would start for a bunch of college football teams. Is he an SEC starter? Maybe. He definitely isn’t Daniels, but who was? Nabers and Thomas Jr. should be able to get open, but most LSU games this season were back-and-forth games where each team scored. Wisconsin won’t turn the ball over and make this game close.

LSU was 11-1 over/under this season. That’s an incredible number. The average score of an LSU game this season was 46-28.

Wisconsin doesn’t see this type of offense much in the Big Ten. Don’t be surprised if this game is 35-14 at halftime. All of the opt-outs erode depth for both teams and cause defensive mistakes and openings. If Nussmeier has time to throw, he will find open receivers, who will make plays. Wisconsin will run through the Tigers defense. Points will follow.

This prop bet caught our attention, because if we’re going to go all in with points and a high-scoring game, then odds are a lot of TDs will be on the ground.

LSU had two back-up running backs enter the portal, but they can still run the ball with John Emery Jr. Plus, they’ll keep a lot of the same offensive tactics they used with Daniels, and Nussmeier can run too. You know close to the goal line Wisconsin will look to pound it in. This seems like a fun and reasonable bet that could pay off.

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