Huskies vs Broncos NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
The Washington Huskies and the Boise State Broncos have only faced off once before—the team from the Pacific Northwest won 24-10 in 2007—but they’ll face off twice in two games starting with the 2013 Las Vegas Bowl.
Once this game concludes, both teams will begin their offseason, but once fall comes around, they’ll prepare to face each other again in the 2013 season opener.
Washington Huskies (7-5) vs No. 19 Boise State Broncos (10-2)
Saturday December 22, 2012
Sam Boyd Stadium, LAS VEGAS, NV
3:30 PM ET
Moneyline: Boise State -210, Washington +180 from GTBets.eu
Spread: Boise State -5
O/U: 46
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Washington Huskies
The Washington Huskies had high hopes heading into the 2012 college football season, but the elite opponents on their schedule were just too much to handle. Quarterback Keith Price next quite lived up to expectations, as the team was abysmally the 87th-ranked passing team in the country.
Their running game was even worse, and while tailback Bishop Sankey stepped in and played well throughout the year the team finished the regular season averaging just 137.2 yards per game on the ground (92nd in the country).
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Defensively, this team played a decent season. They struggled against the run, but they were the 16th-best passing defense in the nation. They held their opponents to just 353 yards and 23.8 points per game, which means this contest is going to come down to which offense can strike unexpectedly.
Boise State isn’t going to pose a huge offensive threat. Washington needs to contain a backfield that was inconsistent this season, and if they can do that, they’ll stand a chance of keeping this one close late.
Boise State Broncos
Saturday, Dec. 22 will mark the third straight year that the Boise State Broncos have played in the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl. Boise State missed a BCS bowl appearance by one loss the previous two times, and this year was the same story. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The last two postseason matches went in the Broncos’ favor, as they defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Utah Utes by a combined 55 points, but a defensive battle this time around should make the matchup against Washington an entertaining one for fans to watch.
Boise State’s offense wasn’t as potent this season as we’ve become used to, but their defense is what helped them to a 10-2 record and a share of the Mountain West championship.
They allow just 14.9 points per game, which is good enough for sixth in the nation, and they kept their opponents to just 304.7 yards per game, which was good enough for ninth in the nation.
Passing defense is where this team made the biggest difference. They struggled at times against the run, but they kept the opposing passing games to just 163.4 yards per game, which made them the fourth-best passing team in the country.
Like the Huskies, Boise State had a tough time throwing the ball this season. However, unlike UW, they were able to atleast establish themselves as a middle-of-the-road running team.
The Broncos have a better offensive team and a better defensive team, and while their strength of schedule may not compete with that of Washington’s, they should prove come Saturday that they were the better, more consistent team this season.
Trends
O/U Pick: Under 46
Score Prediction: Boise State 24 – Washington 21
