Washington (7-5) vs Boise State (12-1)
When: Saturday, December 21st 2019
Where: Sam Boyd Stadium,
Las Vegas, Nevada
Time: 7:30 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Washington -3/49
We have a very interesting matchup in the desert on Saturday, as the Washington Huskies take on the Boise State Broncos in the Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium. Lots of coaching subplots in this one with Huskies’ head coach Chris Peterson not only guiding Washington for the last time, but doing so against a school he had so much success with. Peterson, who will take another roll with the university after Saturday, went 92-12 in eight seasons as the Broncos head man. Washington was supposed to compete for a Pac-12 title and possible CFP berth, but things have not gone well in Seattle this season. The Huskies went 3-4 down the stretch including back-to-back losses to conference championship participants Oregon and Utah before finishing with another Apple Cup win over rival Washington State. Boise head coach Bryan Harsin goes up against the coach he worked with for 10 years, including five with Peterson as the head man. Harsin and Peterson have met once as head coaches with the Broncos prevailing 16-13 in 2015 in Peterson’s much-anticipated return to Boise. The Broncos closed with six consecutive wins and are playing in a bowl game for the 18th straight season – the fifth-longest active streak in the nation. The schools met in the 2012 Las Vegas Bowl when Peterson guided the Broncos to a 28-26 victory over the Huskies, then coached by Steve Sarkisian. Washington has covered each of the last four meetings.
This could be the final game for junior quarterback Jacob Eason, as he may enter the NFL draft after the game. He passed for 2,922 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions in his first season as a starter since 2016 at Georgia. Junior running back Salvon Ahmed rushed for 85 yards in the regular season finale to reach exactly 1,000 and has four outings of 119 yards or more. Eason’s top target is tight end Hunter Bryant (52 catches, 825 yards, 3 TDs), but the junior is skipping this game to get ready for the NFL draft – as is senior offensive tackle Trey Adams. Junior free safety Elijah Molden has a team-best 70 tackles and his three interceptions are tied with freshman cornerback Cameron Williams for the team lead. The unit ranks 33rd in FBS against the run (133.2), but just 64th versus the pass (225.1).
The Broncos will once again go with senior quarterback Jaylon Henderson after he took over for good in mid-November due to injuries and his brilliant play. In his last four starts, Henderson has thrown 10 touchdown passes against two interceptions while adding two rushing scores. Running back George Holani is having a find freshman campaign with 979 yards and seven scores while averaging 5.4 yards a carry. The receiving corps has six players with at least 21 receptions led by sophomore Khalil Shakir (60 catches, 834 yards), who has six touchdowns receiving and another three on the ground. Senior wideout John Hightower (48 receptions) is the deep threat with a team-leading 923 yards and eight scores. Junior Curtis Weaver has 13.5 sacks – fifth-most in the nation – for a unit that ranks 19th in the country in stopping the run (113.1).
This isn’t going to be easy for Peterson to end his Washington tenure with a win. The Huskies have had a down year and a couple of key players are skipping this game. In my opinion, Boise is the better team here, so take the points.
Pick: Boise State +3.5 (Jay Cooper’s Free Bowl Picks)
Betting Trends:
Broncos are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
Broncos are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Broncos are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 bowl games as an underdog.
Broncos are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Broncos are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 neutral site games as an underdog.
Broncos are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 bowl games.
Broncos are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 Bowl games.
Broncos are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 neutral site games.
Huskies are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
Huskies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite.
Huskies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
Huskies are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite.
Huskies are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. MWC.
Huskies are 5-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Huskies are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in December.
Huskies are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.
Huskies are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games following a ATS win.
Huskies are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
Huskies are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Huskies are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 bowl games.
Huskies are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
Under is 5-1 in Broncos last 6 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
Under is 9-2 in Broncos last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-1 in Broncos last 5 games overall.
Under is 4-1 in Broncos last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-1 in Broncos last 5 games in December.
Under is 4-1 in Broncos last 5 games on fieldturf.
Under is 7-2 in Broncos last 9 games following a ATS win.
Over is 5-2 in Broncos last 7 games as an underdog.
Over is 5-2 in Broncos last 7 bowl games.
Over is 5-2 in Broncos last 7 Bowl games.
Under is 9-4 in Broncos last 13 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Under is 6-0 in Huskies last 6 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Under is 5-0 in Huskies last 5 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
Under is 6-1 in Huskies last 7 neutral site games as a favorite.
Under is 5-1 in Huskies last 6 games as a favorite.
Under is 5-1 in Huskies last 6 neutral site games.
Under is 7-2 in Huskies last 9 games following a straight up win.
Under is 6-2 in Huskies last 8 games following a ATS win.
Over is 5-2 in Huskies last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
Broncos are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
