The Flames have tackled Power 5 opposition before, playing four of them last season--Wake Forest, Arkansas, and Virginia Tech, plus in then-Independent BYU, and split the four games, with the two losses tot he ACC reps by one point each. Jamey Chadwell's Flames have lots of offense with dual-threat QB Kaidon Salter and RB Quinton Cooley, both 1000+ yard rushers this season for an offense that scored 42 ppg. Slowing omnipotent Oregon is another matter, but how much some of the Ducks' departing players like QB Bo Nix and RB Bucky Irving actually play is unknown, and not sure of the motivation on the Ducks' side, which reminds a bit of USC in the Cotton Bowl vs. Tulane last season. Play Liberty (Fiesta Bowl)

The Fiesta Bowl is renowned (or notorious) for its scorefests, with two-thirds of the last dozen games hitting at least 63 points. Brace yourself for another. It matches two of the nation's highest-scoring squads. Liberty's defense couldn't stop the non-Power Five schools on its schedule, having allowed a minimum of 25 points in every league encounter and missing starters who fled to the portal. It will be in duck-and-cover mode against QB Bo Nix, a Heisman finalist who has all of the usual weapons minus one WR at his disposal. The Ducks have reached the 31-point mark in every game. They could extend the streak here in their sleep.

The only way that the over hits in this one is if Oregon tops the 60-point mark on its own. Can it happen? Maybe if it is challenged by Liberty. But that’s about as likely as my hairline to suddenly stop receding. The Ducks defense is the best defense that the Flames have faced all season … by far. Oregon will throttle down in this one in the exact same way it did in the blowout win over Colorado earlier this season.

Of all the bowl games, this might be the toughest to handicap. Does Oregon care about this game despite QB Bo Nix saying he will play? Does Liberty have the horses, despite a 13-0 season, to compete with the Oregon machine? We know the Flames will be fired up but I can't come up with a way they slow down Nix and the Ducks. A backdoor cover late is a real possibility but the over seems to be the safest play. Oregon 49, Liberty 35.