BYU vs Washington NCAA Football Betting Odds
The Washington Huskies have endured an eventful few weeks entering Bowl Season. Steve Sarkisian stepped down as head coach to accept the lead job at USC, and in his place, Chris Petersen has been named his replacement.
BYU (8-4) vs. Washington (8-4, 5-4 Pac-12)
Friday, Dec. 27 9:30 PM ET Fight Hunger Bowl
Spread: Washington -3
Over / Under: 60
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
ATS Matchup Stats | *INSIDER* Gambling Insight!
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s NCAA FOOTBALL Picks Today!
BYU, on the other hand, has had a benevolent transition into the postseason, avoiding headlines and preparing for a battle with another 8-4 program.
Washington
With coach Petersen set to make his debut next season, the interim head coaching spot belongs to Marques Tuiasosopo.
*CLICK HERE* GRAB OUR BEST Expert College FOOTBALL Picks for 2013 GAMBLING season!
Even without a win in the Fight Hunger Bowl, the team has already surpassed the dreaded seven-win mark that plagued it the past few years, but a win on Friday will put it in prime position to take momentum into Petersen’s first year at the helm.
The Huskies earned credit this season for their newfound approach on offense, and as a result, they became an upper-echelon squad when it came to moving the ball.
They finished the regular season as the 30th passing and 14th rushing team in the nation in terms of yards per contest, and as a result, they scored an impressive 38.5 points per game—14th in the country.
While we talk about their offensive production, you can’t ignore what they did to improve on defense, either. They finished the year allowing just 23.4 points per outing, and they did it with a balanced attack between stopping the run and stopping the pass.
Against BYU, the Huskies must focus on defending the run. BYU hasn’t been an elite throwing team all season, but its ability to move the ball on the ground is what has won them games.
[soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Cougars are averaging 274.6 yards per game in that category—good enough for 10th in the nation—and the Huskies are allowing 159.8 yards defensively.
BYU
BYU’s schedule doesn’t scream elite competition, but we can say for the most part that they won the games they were supposed to win. In their last seven outings, the team only lost twice: once to No. 24 Wisconsin and once to Notre Dame.
Both of those squads won by 10, but they provided a lesson in next-level competition entering this matchup.
The key for BYU, like it is for Washington, is to stop the run.
We know based on the numbers that Washington can do damage through the air, but we also know that Bishop Sankey has the potential to destroy a defense that has struggled to stop good running teams this season.
The other thing BYU must do is control the football. Penalties will be problematic if they occur too frequently, but turnovers will be like shooting themselves in the foot.
Washington has the spread advantage for a reason, and if it can force turnovers early, it will have a chance to pull away late.
Prediction: Washington -3
