The student gets a chance to school the teacher when the Boise State Broncos host the Washington Huskies on ESPN Friday.
Washington coach Chris Petersen is back in Boise, where he became an icon of the sport for eight seasons, posting a 92-12 record with four top-10 finishes. He’ll face his former assistant Bryan Harsin, who has the Broncos ranked 23rd and the favorite to be the non-Power 5 conference team to play in a New Years Six bowl.
ODDS
The uncertainty surrounding the Huskies quarterback situation has created plenty of movement on the line. Boise State opened at -10.5 and that number recently rose to -12. Washington is going to be better than people think, but this is a tough opener on the road. The total surfaced at 57.5 which is a bit high given two unproven quarterbacks are starting.
KEY MISMATCH
There’s a reason why Peterson isn’t revealing his starting quarterback and it’s because none of the three has gained separation in the race. And that’s a big question mark looming over the Washington offense, which is one giant purple mystery. And the Boise State D is poised to keep it that way. The Huskies are unproven everywhere, but especially behind center and up front as Petersen continues his rebuild project. The tattered offensive line will have its hands full trying to keep Kamalei Correa and linebacker Tanner Vallejo from blowing up plays. Safety Darian Thompson and corner Donte Deayon are next-level defensive backs who close quickly and can create turnovers. Petersen has declined to name his starter, instead listing Jeff Lindquist, K.J. Carta-Samuels and Jake Browning as co-starters on the depth chart.
KEY STAT
Even with three first-round NFL draft picks on defense last year, the Huskies weren’t all that formidable. They surrendered better than 400 yards and nearly 25 points per game, to rank around the middle of the pack nationally. Gone are cornerback Marcus Peters, lineman Danny Shelton and linebacker Shaq Thompson, leaving several holes for the Broncos to exploit.
BETTING ANGLE
Petersen helped Boise State create a home-field advantage and Harsin continued that success last season. The Broncos went 12-2 in Harsin’s first season, capturing another Mountain West title and besting Pac-12 member Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl. BSU is again favored to win the Mountain West due to the return of nine starters to an offense that averaged nearly 500 yards and 40 points per game. The Broncos have won 14 straight at Albertsons Stadium and are 92-4 on their trademark blue turf since 2000, the nation’s best winning percentage. This is the first shot the Broncos – many of whom were recruited by Petersen – have had at their former head coach, which may provide a little added motivation.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Even though they’re a double-digit favorite, it always feels like a Mountain West team is the underdog against a Pac-12 school, no matter the match-up. And the Broncos are the cream of the MWC crop. The storyline in this one is, of course, the return of Petersen to Boise State, who he helped turn into a juggernaut. The Broncos would like nothing better than to prove that they are just fine without him. Washington has plenty of question marks on both sides of the ball, and while those might get fixed, starting off in a hostile environment isn’t going to be easy. There’s a reason why Pac-12 schools don’t visit Mountain West sites and this is a prime example. BSU has better returning talent and plays at home, where they have a huge edge. The Broncos dominate defensively against a team that has no identity yet, and pulls away in the second half.
Boise State 34, Washington 20
BookMaker opened the spread for this game at -10.5 in favor of the Broncos. The NCAA lines total surfaced at 57.5. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The matchup between the Washington Huskies and Boise State Broncos will take place Friday, September 4, 2015, at 10:15 p.m. ET at Albertsons Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
