Wisconsin Badgers, prepare for a trip to Tampa Bay Florida! With how the committee bowl game matchups played out up top, Wisconsin is a lock to play in this year’s ReliaQuest Bowl. As the highest remaining eligible Big Ten team, at 7-5 the badgers will look to end their season on a high note with a bowl game victory.
Wisconsin Badgers Recent History With This Bowl Game
The recently rebranded ReliaQuest Bowl was better known for the past two decades as the Outback Bowl. However, after the famed restaurant franchise decided to end their agreement with the bowl game, cyber security company ReliaQuest took over the branding rights.
Having played in this game five times, the Wisconsin Badgers are 2-3 in this bowl game. Looking to even up their record in this series, it is likely to be a close competitive football game. Having last beat Auburn by three points in the latest Outback Bowl, and having their most recent two loses be close one possession games, Wisconsin has showed that their style matches up well against SEC opponents.
Wisconsin Badgers Opponent
With everything that happened at the top of the standings, a 13th ranked LSU Tigers will be the matchup in Tampa. For an SEC with the roster rankings that it has, and place in the standings, they are somewhat underwhelming.
Against their best quality opponents in competition they have come up short, while pouring on points against their weaker opponents. Jayden Daniels is a Heisman worthy candidate, he is an elite duel threat talent, that has the ability to make chunk plays in the passing game. It is the defense that has let them down. The defense has let up around 21 points a game. But this is a somewhat deceiving stat as they have given up more than 30 points 6 times this season against their stronger opponents.
This is a team that allows over 160 yards rushing per game, that has not been tested up front the way a Wisconsin offensive line will be able to.
Wisconsin Badgers Able To Get Healthy
With a month away from kickoff Wisconsin will be able to travel to Florida as close to full health as possible. Mainly quarterback Tanner Mordecai. Mordecai has looked better in recent weeks since breaking his hand. With the added time, he will be able to recover from his surgery a little more and grip the ball better to throw against the Tigers defense. With the added practice and recovery time, Mordecai should be able to find plenty of big plays in the passing game or scrambling with his legs against LSU.
With Braelon Allen declaring for the draft, expect Cade Yacamelli to pick up the ground attack against this running defense. This will serve as a nice opportunity for Yacamelli to prepare for the upcoming 2024 season, replacing the production that will be left behind by Allens’ departure to the NFL.
Most importantly, Coach Fickell will get a chance to continue to implement his new philosophy and spend time with this new roster during the additional practice time that having a bowl game affords.
