It’s been an up-and-down season for the Wisconsin Badgers with the massive wave coming when Paul Chryst was let go of his head teaching duties following a 2-3 begin.
The Badgers had been in a position to end the common season at 6-6 and within the course of, earn a visit to the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
Luke Fickell is in at head coach and will likely be current for Wisconsin’s battle in opposition to Oklahoma State however has already famous he will not be placing his fingerprints on the sport.
“There’s been a lot of things that these guys have gone through this entire season,” Fickell mentioned. “The last thing they need in this three-week period of preparing for a bowl game is to have more change. Me being there enough is probably change for them, so we tried to keep everything intact as much as they have done.”
On the flip facet of this matchup is an Oklahoma State group that has been each bit as inconsistent because the Badgers.
The Cowboys misplaced 4 of their remaining 5 video games which included a 48-0 throttling by the hands of Kansas State.
Neither Wisconsin or Oklahoma State could have its beginning quarterback. The Badgers noticed their starter Graham Mertz switch to Florida whereas the Cowboys’ starter for a lot of the season, Spencer Sanders, entered the switch portal.
Who will come out on prime on this one? Here’s this week’s picks from across the net:
The Associated Press’ Ralph D. Russo: Wisconsin 20, Oklahoma State 14. “Why watch? Both teams had their starting quarterbacks jump in the transfer portal after the regular season. And neither is sticking around for the bowl game. How’s that going to work?”
Pat Forde of SI.com: Wisconsin 20, Oklahoma State 14. “This figures to be a late-night slog. The teams are not exactly rolling into this game—the Cowboys have lost four of their last five and the Badgers two of their last three. Oklahoma State’s offense fell apart over the final five games and is without its do-everything QB, which should be extremely bad news going up against the Wisconsin defense. The Badgers might actually experience some addition by subtraction with their QB change.”
Pete Fiutak of collegefootballnews.com: Wisconsin 23, Oklahoma State 19. “The Oklahoma State quarterback situation isn’t a plus with Spencer Sanders gone. Freshman Garret Rangel was okay in his three appearances, and Gunnar Gundy has a little bit of time logged in, but just assume at least two interceptions coming from the Cowboy offense. Wisconsin might not have Oklahoma transfer Nick Evers quite yet, but Chase Wolf is at least experienced. That’s going to matter, and so will having Chez Mellusi running the ball if Braelon Allen isn’t fully back to normal. It’s all going to be a bit rocky considering all of the missing parts, but the Badgers should be able to rely on the running game a bit more than Oklahoma State can.”
Bill Bender of Sporting News: Wisconsin 33, Oklahoma State 26. “The Badgers are favored despite the fact quarterback Graham Mertz is in the transfer portal and there is a coaching transition underway with the hire of Luke Fickell. The Badgers were 6-1 S/U in bowl games under Paul Chryst, and the Cowboys lost four of their last five games. Will Spencer Sanders play in this game?”
RJ Young of FOXSports.com: Wisconsin. “After looking like the class of the Big 12, the Pokes fell short of their expectations to return to the Big 12 title game. Now they face a great challenge in Wisconsin. Though Luke Fickell has been named head coach, it’s defensive savant Jim Leonhard who should be the worry for Mike Gundy’s squad.”
Shad Powers of the Palm Springs Desert Sun: Oklahoma State.
Collin Wilson of Action Network: Wisconsin (with 16 confidence factors)
SI.com’s College Football HQ: Oklahoma State 27, Wisconsin 20.
Field Level Media: Wisconsin 17, Oklahoma State 13. “Both will play backup quarterbacks, so it’s likely the offenses will struggle. But the Badgers still have running back Braelon Allen, and he might be enough.”
Joe DiTullio of GameHaus: Wisconsin 24, Oklahoma State 18. “Both these teams have plenty of opt outs and players in the transfer portal. Oklahoma State hasn’t looked like the same team when Sanders was injured at quarterback and that will be the case in this game. Wisconsin should be able to run the ball well and get a close win.”
Bryan Clinton of Heartland College Sports: Wisconsin 17, Oklahoma State 13. “I don’t think either of these teams will be lighting up the scoreboard in Phoenix, and at the end of the day, I think that the presence of Braelon Allen, combined with the bevy of Oklahoma State players in the transfer portal is just too much for Mike Gundy and company to overcome. This will be a tough spot for both offenses, but I will take the team with the better running game and the better defense to win in a low-scoring slugfest.”
Adam Taylor McKillop of FanDuel: Wisconsin 27, Oklahoma State 18.
Nathan Cross of Killer Frogs: Oklahoma State 28, Wisconsin 21.
Only one in every of three Athlon Sports writers thinks Wisconsin will win – Mark Ross – and he solely offers it six confidence factors.
All six writers at USA Today choose Wisconsin to emerge with a victory.
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