Betting preview for the Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State

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Previewing the Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State

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This is the preview for the Guaranteed Rate Bowl

 

Wisconsin (-3.5, 45) vs. Oklahoma State 

Date: Tuesday, December 27, 10:15 p.m. ET

Chase Field (Phoenix)

Betting splits: 59% of handle, 44% of bets on Wisconsin -3

There are likely to be few bowls that have been hit harder by opt-outs and transfers than the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, which will be played at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Graham Mertz will not start at quarterback for Wisconsin, as he entered the transfer portal. The Badgers will be without two key defenders as well: linebacker Nick Herbig and nose tackle Keeanu Benton, as both have decided to prepare for the NFL Draft. Herbig and Benton were the Badgers’ second and sixth-highest-graded defenders by PFF standards and had combined for 15.5 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss in the regular season. Their absences are massive, but luckily Wisconsin will face an Oklahoma State offense needing to fill holes of its own.

Longtime starting quarterback Spencer Sanders has hit the transfer portal and is no longer with the Cowboys. Leading rusher Dominic Richardson also left via the portal, recently committing to play for Baylor. Oklahoma State will also be without two of its best defensive linemen in Brock Martin and Tyler Lacy.

The betting market has not moved much from the opening line of Wisconsin -3.5, but the total is up to as high as 45 after opening at 43.5 in a majority of shops. The losses of key defenders on both teams are likely why this total has ticked up, but the quality of offense should be questioned given the status of the quarterback position for both rosters. This line should close right where it is by the time kick-off arrives. — Jonathan Von Tobel

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