The end of bowl season is quickly approaching, and New Year’s Day brings a surplus of intriguing matchups. One of several is the ReliaQuest Bowl, featuring LSU vs. Wisconsin in a hefty appetizer to the main course of playoff games.
This game presents the bad-on-bad matchup of Wisconsin’s 100th-ranked scoring offense against LSU’s 101st-ranked total defense. One of these units will manage to look serviceable, and the team that breaks character will put themselves in an advantageous position.
2024 ReliaQuest Bowl: How to Watch
When: January 1, 2024; 12:00 PM ET
Where: Raymond James Stadium; Tampa, FL
TV: ESPN2
Line: LSU -10, O/U 56
Wisconsin’s Way
Head coach Luke Fickell finished his first regular season at Wisconsin with a 7-5 record, finishing third in the Big 10 West. The Badgers earned tough road wins over Illinois and Minnesota. They also provided Indiana its lone conference win of the season. A bowl game win over an SEC team would be significant for the perception of the direction of the program, as Wisconsin went 7-6 in 2022 before Fickell was hired.
To put it lightly, the Badgers do not have the most dynamic passing game. Starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai has thrown only six touchdown passes this season, but that’s not to say he should shoulder the blame alone for the passing woes. The Wisconsin receivers have struggled to create separation this year, specifically on deep routes. Sophomore Will Pauling has hauled in an impressive 66 catches but only averages 10 yards per catch.
Naturally, the historically physical Badgers have leaned on their running game for offensive success. The problem is leading rusher Braelon Allen is one of nine Wisconsin players who opted out. Fortunately for LSU, the 6’2”, 245-pound steamroller chose to skip the ReliaQuest Bowl to prepare for the NFL draft. Wisconsin will have its second-leading rusher, Chez Mellusi, and Mordecai has also proven to be valuable as a rusher.
The Tigers’ Trail
LSU tantalized its fans with one of the best offenses ever and tortured them with one of the worst defenses ever. The offense was enough to carry the team to a 9-3 record. Two of the three losses came against a playoff team in Alabama and an undefeated team in Florida State.
Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels willed LSU to a road win against a top-10-ranked Missouri team, effectively entering himself into the Heisman conversation. He later set single-game records for yardage against Florida. In short, Daniels carried the Tigers to every win they got this season. He repeatedly hit Malik Nabers on intermediate routes and Brian Thomas on deep routes, attacking all areas of the field in a historic season.
An average defense could’ve possibly propelled the Tigers to an SEC Championship appearance, but the defense was woefully below average. The LSU defense gave up 45 points to Florida State, 55 to Ole Miss, and 42 to Alabama.
How the ReliaQuest Bowl Plays Out
Daniels opted not to play to prepare for the draft, and no rational person can blame him. Garrett Nussmeier will get his long-awaited first start in the game. Nussmeier is the exception to the rule in this era of college football, as he’s patiently waited for three years to get a chance to play quarterback. He’s undoubtedly a talented passer, but he’ll need to prove that he can make good decisions over an extended period.
Projected first-round receivers Nabers and Thomas will make Nussmeier’s job easier. The tandem has dazzled spectators with acrobatic catches and the ability to gain yardage after the catch, then gifted LSU with decisions to play in the bowl game. Third-leading receiver Kyren Lacy will set out to establish himself as the top wideout returning for 2024.
Look for Wisconsin to test LSU’s 91st-ranked run defense early and often. Although the Tigers are also vulnerable in the secondary, the Badgers will likely stick to their forte. LSU will get help stopping the run with the return of star defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo. Wingo is returning after an injury. Wingo’s return not only speaks to his competitive nature but also the desire of the LSU defensive personnel to prove that they can be effective. If the Tigers manage to stop the run, the pressure will fall on the young cornerbacks against the pass. True freshmen Javien Toviano and Ashton Stamps were getting first-team reps in bowl practices. A solid performance could boost their confidence and give them positive momentum going into the Spring camp.
Every other LSU opponent has had offensive success, so that will likely continue with Wisconsin. The Badgers will gain yardage, but they’ll have to finish drives with touchdowns. In the end, the Tigers have too much firepower for the Badgers to keep up. The most likely ReliaQuest Bowl outcome is that LSU will outscore Wisconsin on its way to another 10-win season.
