Boise State vs Washington Odds: No. 10 Huskies Expected to Air it Out

The Boise State Broncos visit Husky Stadium on Saturday to face the No. 10 Washington Huskies and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The Huskies led the nation in passing last year and will be airing it out once again this season. The Boise State vs Washington odds have the Huskies -14.5 with a total of 58.5.

Boise State’s Running Game Has to Perform

The Broncos will have to run the football and run it well to make a game out of this. If Boise State can move the ball on the ground it can at least keep Penix and Washington’s offense on the sidelines. George Holani ran for 1,157 yards and 10 touchdowns, while quarterback Taylen Green added 586 yards and scored 10 TDs. Don’t forget running back Ashton Jeanty, who had 821 yards and seven touchdowns.

If the Huskies try to stack the line of scrimmage, Green is a decent enough passer to hit a few big gainers. He threw for 2,042 yards and 14 touchdowns against six interceptions last year. Boise State’s key receiving targets are back, including leading receiver Latrell Caples and Billy Bowens.

There are a few question marks on the offensive line, where the Broncos return three starters.

Boise State returns just five starters on last year’s defense, which was No. 6 in total defense and No. 15 in scoring defense. The linebackers will be a strength, and the secondary has a few nice pieces. The Broncos need the defensive line to come up big and take some of the pressure off the guys in the back.

Penix Gets One More Year to Shine

The No. 10 Huskies have NCAAF playoffs on their mind, but it all begins with a victory over Boise State. Washington won’t clinch a spot in the playoffs in the first week. But it can certainly lose one. The Huskies finished 11-2 last year and were 8-5 in NCAA football against spreads. Washington used a potent passing offense, as Penix finished with 4,641 yards and 31 TDs. The future NFL players were sacked just five times in 554 passing attempts. Right now, Penix is projected to go in the first two rounds, and another solid season could move him up the draft boards.

Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan give Washington a pair of solid receivers, and Ja’Lynn Polk isn’t far behind. The Huskies will rely on Mississippi State transfer Dillon Johnson to gain yards on the ground.

Washington returns Troy Fautanu and Roger Rosengarten on the offensive line, as the Huskies have to replace three offensive linemen.

On defense, Bralen Trice and Zion Tupuola-Fetui will bring the pressure on the quarterback, while linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio looks healthy again. He missed all of last season. The secondary has some decent players, as UW returns seven of last year’s starters.

Washington 38, Boise State 7 (2019)

The college football scores show that these teams last met in the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl and were all Washington. The Huskies led 17-0 at halftime and never looked back. Washington had a 341-266 yardage advantage, and Boise State made three turnovers to none for the Huskies. Washington is 5-0 against the spread against Boise State dating back to 2007.

What to Expect

The Broncos have to run the ball. That’s what they do best, and Boise State can’t leave its defense on the field for long stretches of time. If Boise can gain chunks of yardage on the ground, that will open the passing game some. But if the Broncos are running the ball well, they must continue to pound the football.

The Huskies have to be patient and take what the defense gives them. If the short pass is what’s open, that’s where Penix needs to throw the ball. The big plays will come, and there’s no need to try and force things.

Who to Bet On?

The Boise State vs Washington odds of 14.5 might seem to be a little high. But this year’s Washington team has a chance to be pretty special. Right now, the power ratings have it a shade below a few of the other teams in the Pac-12 Conference. But the Huskies have the opportunity to change that on the field.

Boise State is still the class of the Mountain West Conference, but it’s well behind the top six teams in the Pac-12. The Broncos will be good when they’re playing in their class. But they look to be outmatched a bit here.

The Boise State vs Washington odds on the total of 58.5 looks to be a pretty solid number. There isn’t a whole lot of value in the over or under.

The best bet here looks to be the Huskies -14.5.

For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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