ReliaQuest Bowl point spread: Picking LSU Tigers vs. Wisconsin Badgers

As we head into the second half of bowl season, teams that had significantly better seasons are beginning to suit up and take each other on. The Reliaquest Bowl will feature one such matchup, with LSU set to take on Wisconsin.

LSU enters the game as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 55.5 points, and On3’s Andy Staples dives into the matchup to determine a winner. We’ll get his thoughts below.

How to watch LSU vs. Wisconsin

Time: Jan. 1 – 12 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN or ESPN+, FuboTV (streaming)
Location: Tampa, Fla.

The big key to most bowl games these days is player availability, given the proliferation of opt-outs over the last few years. And there will be some major opt-outs in this game.

That said, LSU and Wisconsin both still have some key players suiting up.

“No Jayden Daniels, but Malik Nabers yes and Brian Thomas yes,” Staples said. “So Garrett Nussmeier, definitely somebody to throw to.”

The real key to the ReliaQuest Bowl might be on the opposite side of the ball from the Heisman Trophy winner, though. Both Staples and the Associated Press’ Ralph Russo, Staples’ guest on the Andy Staples On3 show this week, pointed to that fact.

“This is going to be maybe the ultimate test of just how bad is your defense, because if you can make this Wisconsin offense (look good) … even at full strength, never really launched,” Russo said. “Now there is no Braelon Allen.”

LSU finished the season ranked 101st in total defense, giving up 409.2 yards per game, while also finishing ranked 76th in scoring defense, allowing 27.8 points per game.

Still, it’s no guarantee that Wisconsin offense gets going.

“Tanner Mordecai probably OK, but they didn’t have any receivers who could get separation,” Staples pointed out. “Like it never felt like they were a threat to just score quickly. They had to grind it out on the ground.”

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With star running back Braelon Allen opting out for the game, the Badgers won’t have their top offensive threat in the ReliaQuest Bowl. That could prove costly.

In any case, though, Staples likes the Badgers to cover the spread.

“I will take Wisconsin to cover because it’s a big number,” he said. “Would have preferred it went to 10, but it’s a big number. I think the Badgers, against this defense, might be able to score. Because it’s a bad defense.”

The ReliaQuest Bowl will take place on New Year’s Day at 12 p.m. ET, with a national broadcast set for ESPN.