This year, the Fiesta Bowl hosts the highest-ranked Group of Five program and it’s the undefeated Liberty Flames looking to follow in the footsteps of the Cotton Bowl-winning Tulane Green Wave in an upset of a Pac-12 contender — this time the 11-2 Oregon Ducks.
Can Liberty pull off the upset or are the Ducks set to fly high on New Year’s Day? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Fiesta Bowl prediction.
Fiesta Bowl Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Fiesta Bowl odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Oregon -17 - Moneyline
Oregon -800, Liberty +550 - Over/Under
68 points - Game time
1:00 p.m. ET - Location
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ - Predicted Weather at Kick
63 degrees, 6 mph winds, mostly cloudy - How to Watch
ESPN, FuboTV
Wanting to make some dollars on the Ducks? Feeling lucky about Liberty and fancy the Flames? If you’re going to take advantage of the Fiesta Bowl odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
It’s a first-ever matchup between these two teams in Glendale, with the Pac-12 runner-up a significant favorite. Liberty hasn’t been an underdog all season long, and Oregon is coming off their first defeat of the season as a favorite. While our Fiesta Bowl prediction suggests a closer game than many expect, the Ducks should become the first team to extinguish the Flames this year.
MORE: College Football Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker
Both teams are 9-4 covering the spread this season, so who will break the stalemate when the two clash in the Fiesta Bowl? Oregon has thrice failed to cover as a double-digit favorite, including last time out against Washington. There are some elements of this Liberty team that could cause similar issues for the Ducks, with their offense helping keep this thing close.
Oregon’s defense has helped keep their games finished under the total points line more often than not this season, but in a bowl game against a high-powered Liberty offense that could change on Monday. The Flames have scorched defenses all season, and as a result, they’re 8-5 covering the points spread this year. Oregon wins, Liberty covers, and the game goes over.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Liberty Depth Chart | Oregon Depth Chart
- QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
- QB Bo Nix, Oregon
- RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
- RB Aaron Bedgood, Liberty
- RB Billy Lucas, Liberty
- RB Bucky Irving, Oregon
- RB Jordan James, Oregon
- RB Jayden Limar, Oregon
- WR CJ Daniels, Liberty
- WR Noah Frith, Liberty
- WR Treon Sibley, Liberty
- WR Tez Johnson, Oregon
- WR Traeshon Holden, Oregon
- WR Gary Bryant Jr, Oregon
- TE Bentley Hanshaw, Liberty
- TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
- TE Patrick Herbert, Oregon
There are five college football games on Monday to compile your DFS team. If you’re new to DFS, Fanduel Superflex contests require you to select a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, and a “Superflex” that can be any of the above or a tight end.
You’re in for an absolute offensive treat in Arizona on Monday, and your Fiesta Bowl picks are likely to include the starting QB for your DFS lineup. Kaidon Salter and Bo Nix are the QB2 and QB3 of the 2023 college football season. The Liberty QB’s dual-threat capability gives him a slight advantage over the former Auburn passer, with over 1,000 rushing yards and 12 scores.
MORE: NCAA Football Bowl Games By Conference Record
In addition to two high-scoring quarterbacks, these two teams are blessed with exceptional running back talent. Bucky Irving gives Oregon one of the top rushers in the nation, but that hasn’t always translated to fantasy football this year. He’s the RB23 nationally, while Quinton Cooley is the RB18 with 232.7 points. Cooley could be set for a big day for the Flames on Monday.
With some heavy hitters at the WR position playing in the College Football Playoff, pass catchers might not be in play for your Fiesta Bowl picks. That said, with fantasy WR3 Troy Franklin opting out of the game, we could be in for a big game from Tez Johnson. Nix’s adopted brother already has over 1,000 yards and nine touchdown receptions this season.
Prediction for the Fiesta Bowl
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the Fiesta Bowl odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction.
Can Liberty upset the odds and land a famous win for the program in the first season under Jamey Chadwell? Or will they be overpowered by Oregon, as the Ducks look to close out their time in the Pac-12 in style with a New Year’s Six success?
Many people think that Liberty shouldn’t be in the New Year’s Six, citing their lack of résumé having not played a Power Five program on the way to an undefeated season and CUSA title at the first time of asking. Expect those opinions to fuel an extremely competitive performance from a Flames team who are far from traveling to Arizona to make up the numbers.
MORE: 2023 All-Pac-12 College Football Honors
Deride the schedule all you like, but this is a program that ranks fifth in the nation for scoring offense. They’ve allowed just 22.7 points per game defensively too, ranking 42nd in the nation for scoring defense while leading the nation with 21 interceptions through the 2023 season. They’ll be without Preston Hodge, but Kobe Singleton and Brylan Green fly to the football with aplomb.
They’ll obviously have their work cut out for them against the second-ranked scoring offense in the nation. Oregon has averaged 44.2 points per game this season, and the fact that Nix, Irving, and Johnson all play is potentially game-defining. One huge question mark for the Ducks is how they’ll move the ball on the ground without star center Jackson Powers-Johnson.
Oregon has also boasted one of the top defenses in the nation this season, averaging just 17.3 points per game allowed. They’re the 10th-ranked rushing defense in college football while ranking in the top 25 for yards per attempt allowed to opposition quarterbacks and passing touchdowns allowed. The loss of starting cornerback Khyree Jackson could be a factor, however.
The Oregon defense was at its most vulnerable when facing Washington — in particular, running back Dillon Johnson. Liberty’s Cooley can play a similar role in gashing the Ducks defense, while Salter has been near unstoppable with his arm and legs.
The Flames have the top rushing offense in the country — averaging 302.92 yards a game — and that could keep this game close. However, Oregon can likely take advantage of Liberty’s propensity to give up explosive plays to sneak a win on Monday night.
Prediction: Liberty 37, Oregon 43
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football’s transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!