College Football Picks: LA Bowl Washington vs Boise State Best Bets
The Washington Huskies (8-4) and the Boise State Broncos (9-4) will meet within the confines of SoFi Stadium in what's expected to be the last iteration of the LA Bowl. What stands out for this bowl game is the rapid turnaround, as this is one of the earliest bowl games scheduled in the modern era. I believe that this will be a significant factor in how we approach our favorite wager for this game.
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LA Bowl Betting Odds: Washington vs Boise State
Spread: Washington -9.5, (FanDuel Sportsbook) Boise State +10 (Caesars Sportsbook)
Total: Over 52.5 (DraftKings Sportsbook). Under 53.0 (Caesars Sportsbook)
Monelyline: Washington -360 (Caesars Sportsbook, Boise State +295 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
There wasn't much time for movement given the recent announcement, and there's been no consensus that has moved the line significantly since it opened. Only the moneyline has shown a visible shift, as public money for the Huskies has widened the vig on both sides.
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LA Bowl Betting Picks: Washington vs Boise State
At first glance, I think there is every reason to suggest a conservative offensive approach to this matchup. This is a trend you often see in early bowl games, and the rapid turnaround this year gave both teams less time to practice and prepare for the opponent. Without a thoroughly planned defensive game plan, teams can get exploited; a lack of preparation will likely have a similar effect on the offense. Both teams were likely equally surprised by this early draw, and the scramble to watch film and get ready for this game will directly affect the outcome.
Defense wins championships, and they win bowl games as well. The Huskies had a daunting Big Ten schedule this season, and although they lost to Ohio State, Michigan and Oregon, they didn't allow these offenses to get too far ahead of them. Overall, opposing offenses haven't been completely contained, but no team has scored over 25 points against this defensive unit, and that includes some very tough competition.
Although Boise State won the Mountain West, they wilted against Notre Dame and suffered an embarrassing loss to Fresno State, who handled them with relative ease. The Broncos also barely got past Utah State in the closing weeks of the season. While grading "Quality Losses" isn't a widely used metric, Washington wins that race by a landslide.
I'm going to offer up two bets for this matchup. I expect Washington to be better prepared, but neither team will have its best offensive stuff ready for this game. The Huskies will win handily, but the final score will fall short of the projected total.
LA Bowl Expert Picks: Washington -9.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook), Under 53.0 (Caesars Sportsbook)
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LA Bowl Predictions: Washington vs Boise State
Although the team's record doesn't reflect the positive facets of Washington's offense, few Big Ten quarterbacks flashed the kind of weekly stats Demond Williams tallied this season. He re-earned the top role this season after blowing up against Louisville in last year's Sun Bowl, and he continued to utilize his dual-threat ability to great effect this year.
Williams also has an excellent supporting cast around him. Running back Jonah Coleman is expected to lead the rushing attack after injury issues plagued him in the final weeks of the season, and we should expect a big number from him against a Boise State run defense that is solid but not excellent. Williams also has a stable of competent receivers led by Denzel Boston, who should find himself on an NFL roster next season.
Boise State also has a quality quarterback in Maddux Madsen, who has led the Broncos to three consecutive Mountain West titles during his tenure. The team was challenged by the departure of Ashton Jeanty, but they solved that problem in short order.
Sophomore Dylan Riley stepped up in a big way, and freshman Sire Gaines also turned out to be a massive asset in the running game. Additionally, Malik Sherrod served as an excellent target for Madsen out of the backfield on passing downs.
The Huskies will be the Broncos' second-toughest test of the season, and all of their offensive options will need to play at a high level to get past a Washington defense that has had success against some of the best teams in the country.
Washington 31. Boise State 14
LA Bowl Player Props for Saturday, December 13
Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington - Over 0.5 Touchdowns (Sleeper)
I expect Washington to get several red zone opportunities, and the Huskies will be more than happy to give Coleman a platform to show off for NFL scouts.
Demond Williams, QB, Washington - Fantasy score Over 23.15 Pts (Underdog)
There are several prop avenues for Williams, but I think a prop that illustrates Williams' overall dual-threat ability is the best way to go. There are also some favorable rushing and touchdown props for Williams available on all of the major sites.
