Guaranteed Rate Bowl from Phoenix. Having a pretty crappy college football run of late, but I'm not sure Wisconsin should even be favored here much less by this much -- so I have to take the points even though I probably should cut my losses and start fresh tomorrow. What can I say? Models and even team beat writers have just been awful so far in bowl predictions as these games are just so different, but OSU usually plays well in them under Mike Gundy. Both teams are down their starting QBs among others (UW lost arguably its two best defenders). It seems a bit awkward that Wisconsin's new head coach Luke Fickell will be on the sidelines but that interim head coach Jim Leonhard and the current coaching staff are still running the show. May want to fade me at this point!

The total has sunk with the defection of both quarterbacks, but enough defensive standouts have bailed to offer hope to Over players. Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz's transfer is mitigated by the fact that the Badgers adhere to a ground game, which means the passing attack should not suffer much, and fifth-year senior Chase Wolf likely steps in. Okie State's Garrett Rangel started twice and is acclimated to the role. The Cowboys' defense ranks 119th in FBS, so Wisconsin's pound-it approach on offense should get the Badgers into the mid-20s minimum.

Both of these teams will be without starting quarterbacks, but that half-point hook is what interests me most. The Badgers quarterback situation is a mystery, but we do know a wildly inexperienced quarterback will get the first-team snaps. Myles Burkett and Chase Wolf are listed as co-starters, but neither has a touchdown pass this year. Garret Rangel got two starts this season, and is more than capable of handling his business against a Wisconsin team that is looking forward to the new era under Luke Fickell.