Predicting the Final Score of No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 23 Liberty in Fiesta Bowl

The Ducks face off with an undefeated Liberty from Conference USA.

The No. 8 Oregon Ducks will face the No. 23 Liberty Flames in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on New Year's day to close the 2023 season. 

Oregon enters Monday's game coming off a 34-31 loss to Washington in the Pac-12 title game and Liberty took home the Conference USA title with a 49-34 win over New Mexico State earlier this month.

Quarterback Bo Nix will lead one of the best offenses in the country one more time before heading off to the NFL and the Ducks are expected to have most of their top players available. Notable absences will include star wide receiver Troy Franklin and starting center Jackson Powers-Johnson, who both opted out of the bowl game to prepare for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix throws a warmup pass before the Pac-12 Championship :: Darby Winter/Ducks Digest

Oregon Ducks running back Bucky Irving celebrates a touchdown against the Washington State Cougars :: Darby Winter/Ducks Digest

As great of a player as Franklin is, the Ducks should have a full crop of skill talent even without him, as running back Bucky Irving will play along with wide receiver Tez Johnson and veteran tight end Terrance Ferguson. 

I expect Oregon to build an early lead with Nix running the offense before we get our first solid sample of freshman quarterback Austin Novosad. 

The defense is a bit more of a question mark for the Ducks, as they'll be without veterans Khyree Jackson, Popo Aumavae as they've also opted out ahead of the NFL Draft. Oregon's defense will have a tough task against a Liberty offense averaging 40.8 points per game.

Sophomore quarterback Kaidon Salter is one of five quarterbacks, along with Oregon's Bo Nix, who has been responsible for 40 or more touchdowns this season. The Flames have the No. 1 rushing attack in the country at 302.9 yards per game, but the Ducks have been stout against the run for most of the season and should be up for the challenge at the line of scrimmage coming off a brutal loss.

I think this could be a good game early or in the first half, but I see the Ducks pulling away and ending the Bo Nix era with a win.

Prediction: Oregon 45 Liberty 21

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