Boise State vs. Washington Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Michael Penix Jr. Pick Up Where He Left Off?
In Week 1 of College Football, the Boise State Broncos take on the Washington Huskies. Can Huskie QB Michael Penix Jr. pick up where he left off? Matthew MacKay breaks down this Saturday afternoon game.
Matt MacKay - August 28, 2023, 10:03 AM EDT
5 minBoise State vs. Washington Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Michael Penix Jr. Pick Up Where He Left Off?
A clash between the Mountain West and Pac-12 is set to go down on Saturday afternoon from Seattle, Washington, between the Boise State Broncos vs. Washington Huskies. The Huskies are getting a lot of national hype entering Week 1, ranked No. 10 in the country, while the Broncos went 8-2 down the stretch last season, including a win in the Frisco Bowl over North Texas.
Michael Penix Jr. put up gaudy stats in 2022 during his first year with the Huskies, so his return will help propel Washington forward behind its perennially talented defense. Taylen Green returns for the Broncos, who run a West Coast scheme under returning head coach Andy Avalos, which saw Boise State score 30-plus points in eight games last season.
Can the Huskies justify their top-ten ranking with a dominant Week 1 outing at home? Or will the Broncos rely on their stout defense and physical style of offense to deliver an upset on the road? Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for Saturday's game between the Boise State Broncos vs. Washington Huskies.
Boise State vs. Washington Date, Start Time, and Where To Watch
- Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
- Game Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: ABC
Boise State vs. Washington Odds
- Spread: Boise State +15 (-110), Washington -15 (-110)
- Total Odds: Under 58.5 (-110), Over 58.5 (-110)
- Moneyline Odds: Boise State (+500), Washington (-720)
Boise State vs. Washington Injury Report
BOISE STATE
Questionable: WR Cole Wright (Undisclosed), WR Austin Bolt (Leg)
Out: WR Latrell Caples (Leg)
WASHINGTON
Questionable: N/A
Out: OL Gaard Memmelaar (Undisclosed), RB Cameron Davis (Lower Body), WR Giles Jackson (Thumb), RB Tybo Rogers (Suspension)
Boise State vs. Washington Prediction
Unfortunately for Washington, they will be without multiple players, including RB1 Cameron Davis, who averaged 4.9 YPC and 13 total rushing touchdowns for the Huskies last season. Penix Jr. has a talented arm though, so expect a flurry of passes to Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan to move the chains.
Boise State doesn't have any transfers expected to handle starting reps right away, which means the continuity will be tight from a year ago. Taylen Green's dual-threat ability, compared to the pocket passing prowess of Penix Jr., should create a fun contrast of offenses to watch compete against each other on Saturday afternoon.
These teams haven't played each other since 2019, when the Huskies routed the Broncos 38-7 at home. However, that was four years ago, so all of that personnel is virtually gone. We've seen the Broncos and Huskies win every other matchup since 2012, with each team going 2-2 during this 11-year stretch. It's a trend worth noting, but there's a particular line in this matchup that we have to bet on, and it isn't the moneyline.
Betting totals can be a tricky endeavor, as we went 0-1 on totals bets in Week 0. However, the Broncos and Huskies both have strong defensive units, which plays into betting under 58.5 in this game on Saturday. The total has gone under in 10 of Boise State's last 11 road games, including four of five against Washington, while three of their previous head-to-head matchups have gone under 58.5 total points.
It's definitely more fun to bet overs, especially with a high-flying offense like Washington, but we're here to win money. Let's place a unit on the total going under 58.5 at -110 odds on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Boise State vs. Washington Pick
- Under 58.5 -110 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
College Football Odds
