Broncos vs Huskies NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
In Week 1 of the college football season, fans across the nation are lucky enough to see a rematch of one of the best bowl showdowns of 2012. The Boise State Broncos and the Washington Huskies closed out last season with a 28-26 battle in Las Vegas for the MAACO Bowl.
Boise State (0-0) @ Washington (0-0)
Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013, 10:00 PM ET @ Husky Stadium
Moneyline: Boise State +155, Washington -175
Spread: Washington -3.5
O/U: 52.5
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The Broncos left victorious following a late-game field goal, and now, the Huskies will look for revenge in the newly renovated Husky Stadium.
Boise State
Boise State has made it a habit in year’s past of scheduling a top-tier opponent early in the season. Washington may not be considered elite at this point, but the Broncos are in for a night full of wild and crazy Husky fans inside the stadium.
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The environment is going to be intense for this rematch, and Chris Peterson, head coach of the Broncos, believes his team is ready. But more important than being ready for the environment, Petersen must be prepared for Washington’s new up-tempo offense.
There’s going to be similar elements to what he saw last season in Las Vegas, but the no-huddle attack will keep the Broncos on their toes in ways they didn’t face a year ago.
Defensively, the Broncos finished 12th overall last season, and that’s widely due to the fact that they allowed just 15.8 points per game. When this group saw Washington in Vegas, it was without Demarcus Lawrence. The good news is that he’s back and ready for action, but the bad news is that the team is without Sam Ukwuachu, the squad’s other star lineman.
Washington’s Achilles heel in 2012 was protecting the quarterback, and you’d better believe that Lawrence will test UW’s O-line throughout the contest.
On offense, look for the running game to be in full effect. Tailback Jay Ajayi will be a major focus of the attack, and he could prove to be troublesome for Washington’s D-line—opening up the pass along the way. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Washington
The Huskies are coming off of a 7-6 season, and in order to eclipse that mark this time around, getting off to a hot start is going to be key.
Look for Washington to find success with its new offense, but also look for miscommunication and quick three-and-outs to be a problem. Keith Price has the skill set to succeed in an up-tempo attack, and a group of speedy skill players should complement him nicely.
However, bringing a new offense into a game against an elite opponent is risky, and could result in a few botched plays throughout the contest.
Like the entire last two years for Washington, this game should come down to how comfortable Price is behind center. If he’s flustered and comes face-to-face with the defense on a regular occasion, the team had better hope Bishop Sankey is ready to take on the load.
However, if the offensive line, which is more experienced this season, does its job, expect him to shine against Boise State—not to mention the rest of the teams on the schedule.
The wild card here is the status of Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Kassen Williams. The two offensive weapons are less-than guarantees heading into Week 1, as health and legal troubles could keep them out of Week 1. But as many variables as there are for the Huskies, you can’t ignore home-field advantage.
The new stadium is going to bring the best out of the crowd, and Boise State better have their signals down when on offense. Don’t be surprised if this game, like last year’s, comes down to a field goal; but don’t be shocked, either, if the Huskies are the ones emerging victorious.
O/U Pick:
Score Prediction: Washington 27 – Boise State 24
