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Wisconsin vs. LSU Prediction, Pick & Odds: ReliaQuest Bowl

Brenden Schaeffer

Last Updated: January 1, 2024 11:16 AM EST • 2 min 32 sec read.

Luke Fickell head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers runs off the field after an overtime win against the Nebraska Cornhuskers as we look at our Wisconsin-LSU prediction.
Luke Fickell head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers runs off the field after an overtime win against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images/AFP.

Jayden Daniels was the engine that made the Bayou Bengals hum along, and we're keeping that in mind as we make our Wisconsin Badgers vs. LSU Tigers prediction based on the best college football odds at the best sportsbooks.

The LSU Tigers' offense will be without quarterback Jayden Daniels during the ReliaQuest Bowl. The Heisman Trophy-winning dual-threat signal-caller decided to opt out of the contest.

Will the Wisconsin Badgers (7-5) take advantage as a significant underdog on New Year’s Day at the best college football betting sites?

As part of our look at all college bowl game odds, here is our best Wisconsin vs. LSU prediction and our college football picks for New Year's Day's ReliaQuest Bowl (odds via our best college football betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Wisconsin vs. LSU prediction

Wisconsin +10 (-110 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

While both sides of this ReliaQuest Bowl matchup have been tagged with transfer and opt-out figures in the double-digits, the regular season blueprint for both teams would have slated LSU as far superior. The Tigers had an overall efficiency ranking inside the top 15 nationally (Wisconsin didn’t crack the top 50 in overall efficiency). 

The reality for this matchup, though, is that Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels was everything to LSU this season. The megawatt star at quarterback covered so many blemishes for a defense that ranked 102nd in FBS in total defense, allowing 417.3 yards per game. 

Daniels isn’t suiting up for this game. LSU will start backup Garrett Nussmeier, who has been the QB1-in-waiting this season. A quality gunslinger in his own right, I’m still somewhat skeptical that Nussmeier will achieve the same level of production as Daniels right out of the gate. 

Wisconsin had a top-30 total defense this season and could benefit from a learning curve for Nussmeier. The way I view this spread, 10 points is simply too many to give against any decent opponent, given LSU’s porous defense and absence of their starting quarterback. LSU wins a tight one as the Badgers stay within the number.

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Wisconsin vs. LSU best odds

DraftKings: Wisconsin +10 (-110)

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsbet365
Wisconsin +10Wisconsin +9.5Wisconsin +10Wisconsin +10Wisconsin +10
-110-104-110-110-110

The majority of our best sportsbooks list Wisconsin as a 10-point underdog in Tampa. FanDuel is the lone example of a different spread, as we see the Badgers at +9.5 at FanDuel.

Although the -104 odds are more attractive than the -110 odds offered at the rest of the college football betting sites, we’re staying away from FanDuel as the price differential isn’t worth sacrificing the more valuable +10 number offered by DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and bet365.

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Wisconsin vs. LSU odds

Wisconsin vs. LSU odds analysis

LSU opened as a 10.5-point favorite and has seen the line drop slightly to between -9.5 and -10 across our best sportsbooks. 79% of wagers have come in on LSU.

The total opened at 55.5 and has remained there across some of our best sports betting sites while creeping up to 56 at others. 59% of wagers have come in on the Over.

Wisconsin vs. LSU game info

  • When: Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET
  • Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
  • How to watch: ESPN2
  • Weather: 65 Degrees, 8 mph Wind, 0% Precipitation)

Wisconsin-LSU prediction made Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Check out our best college football betting sites:

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Written By:
Brenden Schaeffer
Since graduating from the University of Missouri in 2016, Brenden Schaeffer has covered the St. Louis Cardinals and Blues hockey as a writer for KMOV in St. Louis. He also co-hosts 'The Big Show' on KTGR radio in Columbia, Missouri. The show airs in afternoon drive, weekdays from 4-6 p.m. Brenden has contributed to SBR since 2021, providing insights on NFL, NCAAF, NCAAB, and the NBA. You can download his daily baseball podcast, B-Schaeff Daily, on Spotify or Apple podcasts, and you can find Brenden across social media @bschaeffer12.