The Alabama Crimson Tide have looked unbeatable this year and seem primed to pick up another national championship with wins in their next two games. The first test will be against the Washington Huskies, who won the Pac-12 title but are still giant underdogs in this showdown.
Alabama has dominated SEC foes and expect to roll once again, but it will be interesting to see if a team from out West can give them a good game. The Huskies are not being given much of a chance and need to play a flawless game to win.
Kickoff for this regular season Week 1 game is set for Saturday, December 31, 2016, at 3 p.m. ET at the Georgia Dome.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Washington +15.5
Alabama -15.5
Over/Under 54.5
Odds Analysis
Alabama has had one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory and is getting the majority of the betting action to cover despite being more than two-touchdown favorites against one of the best teams in the country.
Washington would pay off handsomely on the moneyline at +575 but it will be a tall task to pull off the upset.
Alabama is 13-0 straight up and 9-4 against the spread. The Crimson Tide has been favored in every game this season and that won’t change the rest of the year as they are the team to beat for the title.
Washington is 12-1 straight up and 7-6 against the spread. The Huskies have not been the underdog in any game this season and are now a significant one.
Key Stat
3.93. That’s how many yards a play that opposing offenses are averaging against this stout Alabama defense. The Crimson Tide rank No. 1 in the country for total defense, holding teams to 247.8 total yards a game.
In the last five games, Alabama held opponents to just 34 points. What’s more impressive is that, included in that stretch are three ranked opponents in LSU, Auburn and Florida.
This is an interesting contrast since the Huskies are such a dominant offensive unit. However, Alabama has gone against some high-powered offenses and shut them down before.
Player to Watch
Jake Browning – The sophomore quarterback has been the engine behind Washington’s offense all season long, but he faces his toughest test yet against the aforementioned Alabama defense. Browning has thrown for 3,280 yards and 42 touchdowns with just seven interceptions.
Browning had a bit of an off-week against Colorado, completing just 9-of-24 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll be hoping to shake that off his week in the Peach Bowl.
The young player boasts the No. 2 passer rating in the FBS so he certainly has the ability to bounce back. He threw for a season-high 378 yards and six touchdowns against Cal back on November 5th.
Browning didn’t make the Heisman finalists but was in the running and has been one of the best quarterbacks in college football.
Free ATS Pick
Alabama has answered every challenge this year, and even though Washington has been solid this year, few are expecting the upset to be pulled.
The question centers around the spread and if the Huskies can cover it. Washington has a nice mix of a solid offense and a good defense, so there is reason to believe it can stay moderately close.
The Crimson Tide, though, are on a whole different level, with an elite defense and an offense that has enough big-time players to score with ease.
There seems to be little doubt Alabama will win this game and advance to the national championship. However, the Huskies have enough firepower to cover the spread. The scoring total may be pretty low but it’s still too high, as the “under” is the choice.
College Football Odds: Alabama 30, Washington 17
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