Washington State Cougars vs. Washington Huskies NCAA Football Betting
The 2013 Apple Cup will be played at the newly renovated Husky Stadium, and it will feature two teams who have had their ups and downs this season. For the most part, Washington State has exceeded all expectations.
Washington State (6-5, 4-4 Pac-12) @ Washington (7-4, 4-4 Pac-12)
Friday, Nov. 29 3:30 PM ET @ Husky Stadium
Spread: Washington -14.5
O/U: OFF
Dropping four of five in the middle of the year is never ideal, but having a winning record at this juncture is a huge step up from where they were a year ago.
Washington also endured a three-game losing streak in the middle of the season, but it has won three of its last four entering Week 14.
Washington State
The Washington Huskies will enter this one as favorites by more than two touchdowns, but WSU will use its patented Mike Leach-led passing attack to attempt to shorten the gap. On the season, the Cougars are fifth in the country in passing yards per contest.
They average 372 yards per game in the air, and while they have only scored 31 points per outing, it has been good enough to win half of their conference games up to this point.
As well as Connor Halliday has played this season, Washington State’s biggest hope for victory will have to do more with the opposing quarterback. The problem, however, is that we don’t know exactly who will play behind center for UW on Friday.
Regardless of who plays, whether it’s Keith Price or Cyler Miles, getting pressure on the QB has to be a priority for Washington State.
Price blew an 18-point lead in last year’s matchup with the Cougars, and while you can’t count on that to happen again, knowing you can rattle the opponent is a confidence builder entering a rivalry.
[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Washington
Defensively, there is no mystery about what Washington must do in this one. Defend the pass, defend the pass and defend the pass. Washington State hasn’t been able to run the ball all year, as it is 123rd in rushing yards at this juncture, and you shouldn’t expect that to change in the last game of the season.
Offensively, the Huskies have proven that they have a very balanced attack.
They’re 29 in passing, 15th in rushing and the combined yardage has resulted in nearly 40 points per game—the 16th-best mark in the FBS.
Historically, betting trends point in both directions. WSU is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 versus a team with a winning record, but UW is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 home games.
What you have to take into consideration is that this is a rivalry, and often times that means the underdog shows up to play even when they’re not expected to.
In the last 18 meetings between these two in-state opponents, the underdog has won ATS 13 times. WSU is far from a guarantee at this point in the process, but with a solid season officially behind them, expect them to show up and play a good game, even if they don’t come out on top.
Prediction: Washington 37 – Washington State 30
