Wisconsin vs LSU Player Props for ReliaQuest Bowl: Tiger Kings

Prop bet #1: Nabbing passes

Malik Nabers had himself a year, and he’s a virtual lock to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. I don’t know if he should be praised or questioned for electing to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl, but I’m thankful I get to lay a wager on him.

Perhaps it’s because of the junior star’s devotion to LSU and helping the Tigers to back-to-back wins. Or perhaps it’s a chance to show that anyone can throw him the ball and he can make magic.

Nabers led the nation with 1,546 receiving yards, averaging 18 yards a grab on his 86 receptions while tying for second with 14 TD grabs (more on the guy who led the nation on that below).

He finished the year on an absolute burner, topping 120 yards receiving in five straight games and going for 100+ in nine of his final 10 games of the season.

In fact, he has surpassed his total of 80.5 receiving yards set for the ReliaQuest Bowl in every game this season but the opener, when he had just 67 yards against Florida State.

The Tigers aired it out a ton in 2023, averaging 334.3 yards per game, and they were just one of seven schools in college football to surpass 4,000 yards passing this season.

Of course, Garrett Nussmeier isn’t anything close to Jayden Daniels, and the Lake Charles, Louisiana sophomore has some Heisman-sized shoes to fill.

The good news is he’s thrown passes in five games this season, all classified under the “mop-up duty” tab, but still. With the way Daniels’ draft stock rocketed with unreal performance after unreal performance, LSU must have known at some point he’d need to be ready to go Bowling in January.

The good news is he’s got the keys to a shiny and explosive vehicle – unlike other programs decimated by the transfer portal and NFL Draft prep, the Tigers will miss four regulars.

The game plan should involve a healthy diet of passes to Nabers, and he could clear this total by halftime.

Malik Nabers prop: Over 80.5 receiving yards (-115 at DraftKings)

Prop bet #2: Thomas finds paydirt

Continuing on the embarrassment of riches theme, Nabers isn’t the only first-round receiving talent that will be suiting it up in Tampa.

Brian Thomas Jr has also opted in, bringing his 60 grabs, 1,079 yards, and 15 touchdown grabs, tied for tops in receiving scores in the country with Utah State wideout Jalen Royals.

Thomas Jr went three games all season without finding paydirt. He enters this one having scored six TDs in his last five games, shut out only on November 4 against Alabama.

The Badgers’ defense ranks 19th in the nation in scoring, giving up just 18.9 points per game, but I don’t think they’ve seen an offense quite like the one LSU brings to the table, even without Daniels.

Wisconsin played three opponents on the year that put up better than 30 points per game and went 1-2. In all three games, against Ohio State, Georgia Southern, and Washington State, wide receivers were able to pick up a total of five TD’s, with at least one in every game.

Thomas Jr made hay against the unranked teams on the schedule, piling up 10 touchdowns in eight games. Like Nabers, Nussmeier should be targeting Thomas Jr frequently, and let the leading TD catcher do his thing.

Brian Thomas Jr. prop: Anytime TD (-140 at DraftKings)

Prop bet #3: Full House

We finish with Tanner Mordecai, the starting pivot for Wisconsin, who returned from injury for the last three weeks of the regular season and led them to two straight wins to get bowl-eligible and book their trip to Tampa.

He wasn’t exactly lighting it up though: Mordecai passed for 145 yards in a 28-14 win over Minnesota to end the year, a week after throwing for 160 yards to top Nebraska 24-17 in OT.

In fact, in his nine starts for the Badgers, he’s topped 176.5 passing yards just four times, but just once in his final six appearances.

So why take the Over? Because LSU can be had if the Badgers decide to let it rip.

On the year, the Tigers gave up 245.8 passing yards per game, a lowly 106 in the nation, with teams completing passes at a crisp 63.4% clip.

That style won’t lead to a win, but there are yards to be had on that field, and Mordecai should be able to top that total – assuming he’s not injured or sitting because of a massive blowout..

Tanner Mordecai prop: Over 176.5 pass yards (-125 at DraftKings)