Can Oregon Cover As A Double-Digit Favorite in The Fiesta Bowl?
Oregon, The Overwhelming Favorite Against 13-0 Liberty Per The Fiesta Bowl Betting Odds
The Fiesta Bowl kicks off this upcoming Monday. We’ve got the latest updates on lines, injuries, departures and weather right here:
There hasn’t been much late player movement heading into the Fiesta Bowl. That has been reflected in some relatively minor line movement in the game. Oregon opened as a 15.5-point favorite and is now favored by 16.5 points.
Oregon’s odds to win the game have moved from -550 to -700. The total has gone from 64.5 to 67.5 over the last three weeks.
Conference USA champion Liberty doesn’t have as many concerns about star players opting out to prepare for the NFL Draft as many of the other teams that are playing in the New Year’s Six bowl games.
Defensive back Preston Hodge, who had 48 tackles, eight pass breakups, and two interceptions (one he returned for a touchdown against UMass), has transferred to Colorado, where he will play for Hall of Fame defensive back Deion Sanders.
Keep an eye on the availability of linebacker and fourth-leading tackler Jerome Jolly for Liberty after he missed the Conference USA title game.
There hasn’t been much recent activity when it comes to Oregon players landing in the transfer portal. However, offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson, receiver Troy Franklin, and cornerback Khyree Jackson have opted out of the bowl game.
Franklin leads Oregon with 81 catches and 1383 receiving yards. Jackson has three interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Receiver Gary Bryant and cornerback Jahlil Florence missed Oregon’s loss to Washington in the Pac-12 title game.
Bryant had 26 catches and three touchdowns. He is also a top kickoff returner for the Ducks.
Quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Bo Nix is expected to play in the game, as are running back Bucky Irving and defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus.
Liberty and Oregon will have a hard time topping the most recent Fiesta Bowl as TCU outscored Michigan 51-45 in the semifinals of the 2022 College Football Playoff. The game featured more than 400 rushing yards and over 1000 yards of total offense.
Five of the last six Fiesta Bowls were decided by eight points or less. Ironically, the lone exception was game on Jan. 2, 2021 when Oregon fell to Iowa State 34-17.
Oregon is a two-time Fiesta Bowl champion, with the Ducks beating Colorado 38-16 on Jan. 1, 2002, and defeating Kansas State 35-17 on Jan. 3, 2013.
Group of Five programs have had some success in the Fiesta Bowl with UCF beating a top-10 ranked Baylor squad Jan. 1, 2014 and Boise State edging Arizona 38-30 on Dec. 31 of that year.
Now, check out the rest of the Fiesta Bowl preview, originally published on December 8.
The First Meeting Between the Oregon Ducks and Liberty Flames Comes in Fiesta Bowl
It could be buyer beware when it comes to how motivated Oregon will be in the Fiesta Bowl after coming up short of securing a spot in the College Football Playoff field. The 2023 Fiesta Bowl betting odds have Oregon as a double-digit favorite against Liberty.
Oregon would have secured one of the four spots in the College Football Playoff with a win over Washington in the Pac-12 championship game. However, Oregon couldn’t protect a four-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Liberty topped New Mexico State 49-35 in the Conference USA title game to remain undefeated and edge out Southern Methodist for the Group of Five spot in the New Year’s Six bowl games.
The college football odds have Oregon as a 16-point favorite, which is the largest line of any of the bowl games. The line opened with Oregon favored by 15.5 points.
Something to keep in mind when it comes to NCAAF picks and parlays is that Liberty and Oregon have never played. The Flames are 3-14 outright against teams currently in the Power-5 conferences.
When looking at the NCAA football playoff rankings, Oregon finished eighth in the College Football Playoff rankings with Liberty coming in at No. 23. Oregon is also eighth in both national polls while Liberty is 18th in the Associated Press poll and 20th in the American Football Coaches Association poll.
Fiesta Bowl
Liberty vs Ducks 
Day/Time:
Records: Liberty 13-0 vs Oregon 11-2
Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Streaming: ESPN, ESPN+
Liberty Plan To Hit the Ground Running
What a season it has been for Liberty.
A couple of years ago, quarterback Malik Willis was the focal point of a high-powered Liberty offense. This season, a dominant running game has led the Flames to a perfect season.
Liberty leads all Football Bowl Subdivision teams with an average of 302.9 rushing yards per game and also ranks in the top five nationally in rushing attempts, total yards and scoring offense as well as points scored in the first quarter of games. keep that in mind when it comes to the 2023 Fiesta Bowl betting odds.
Running back Quinton Cooley and quarterback Kaidon Salter have both rushed for more than 1000 yards this season.
Liberty has covered against the Las Vegas odds in 10 of the last 14 games.
Departures and Injuries
Receivers Victor Jones and Reese Smith, who have transferred in from Nebraska and West Virginia, have missed the entire 2023 season for Liberty.
Linebacker Jordan Norwood, defensive linemen Kendy Charles (24 tackles, three sacks), Tysheik Galloway (four tackles, one sack) and Bryan Whitehead (14 tackles, three tackles for loss), edge rusher Amari Williams and quarterback Johnathan Bennett are in the transfer portal.
Fast Starts Driving the High-Flying Ducks
Much like Liberty, Oregon has grown accustomed to playing with the lead this season.
The Ducks are third nationally with an average of 11.9 points scored in the first quarter of games and are second with 14.1 points per scored in the second quarter.
Oregon has outscored its opponents 309-72 in the first half during the 11 wins but trailed at the half in both losses to Washington. Oregon is 9-3-1 against the scores and odds in its 13 games.
Departures and Injuries
For Oregon, receiver Gary Bryant (26 catches) is expected to play while kicker Andrew Boyle, receiver Josh Delgado and running back Noah Whittington (146 rushing yards, 10 catches) are out.
Receivers Ashton Cozart, Kris Hutson, Von Reames and Josh Delgado, as well as cornerbacks Bryan Addison (11 tackles, one interception) and Trikweze Bridges (16 tackles), have entered the transfer portal.
Bo Knows Bowl Games
Welcome to the current state of college football when somebody deciding to play in his NCAAF team’s bowl game becomes a newsworthy event.
Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, a Heisman Trophy finalist, plans to play in the Fiesta Bowl according to Oregon coach Dan Lanning. It will be the fourth bowl game he has played in. He has four touchdown passes and one interception in his previous three bowl games.
Liberty is sixth among Conference USA in passing defense, allowing 244.8 yards per game but leads the conference with a defensive passer rating of 124.1.
The Flames have covered in each of the last five games when listed as the underdog. Oregon has covered in seven of its 10 games this NCAAF season as a double-digit favorite.
The total has gone over in six of Liberty’s last seven games. However, 12 of Oregon’s last 18 games finished under the total. The total is currently at 65.5 points for the Fiesta Bowl after opening at 64.
This will be the first time this season as the underdog for Liberty. Oregon has covered in nine of the 12 games when listed as the favorite.
For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
