Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Las Vegas Bowl betting odds between the Boise State Broncos and the Washington Huskies, with betting picks, tips and bets.

The Boise State Broncos (12-1) and Washington Huskies (7-5) square off at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas at 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Boise State-Washington odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Boise State vs. Washington: Three things you need to know

1. Boise State ranks 38th in the nation with 441.5 total yards per game, and 35th in passing yards per contest (267.4). QB Hank Bachmeier (shoulder) is questionable to play, but backups Jaylon Henderson (four starts) and Chase Cord have proven to be more than capable when called upon.

2. Washington ranks 33rd in the nation against the run, allowing 152.2 yards per game. BSU freshman RB George Holani led the team with 979 yards and seven total touchdowns.

3. Boise State is 4-0 in its previous four appearances in the Las Vegas Bowl, including a 28-26 win over Washington back on Dec. 22, 2012.


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Boise State vs. Washington: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 5:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Boise State 29, Washington 24

Moneyline (ML)

BOISE STATE (+130) is a good bet in this game. The Broncos are 4-0 straight-up all time in the Las Vegas Bowl (formerly the Maaco Bowl) – all against Pac-12 opponents. The Broncos might be deeper than the Huskies at the skill positions as Holani, WR John Hightower and the trio of quarterbacks give Boise State tremendous talent across the board.

New to sports betting? Every $1 wagered on the Boise State ML will profit $1.30 if the Broncos win.

Against the Spread (ATS)

BOISE STATE (+3.5, -121) is a nice play with the points if you want a little bit of insurance, although the Broncos are a great play straight-up, too. The Broncos are 7-0 ATS in their past seven as an underdog, and 7-3 ATS in the past 10 bowl games while going 9-4 ATS in the past 13 neutral-site affairs. On the flip side, Washington is 1-4 ATS in the past five neutral-site games and 1-4 ATS in the past five bowl games.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 49.5 (+105) is a good value at plus-money. The over is 5-2 in Boise State’s past seven bowl games. Plus, the Broncos are 5-2 in their past seven games as an underdog. The Over is 5-2 in the past seven for Washington against teams with a winning record.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Boise State Clobbers Utah State, Ending Aggies’ Title Hopes

Aggies get embarrassed in home finale, lose division to Boise State

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Contact/Follow @SamMcConkie & @MWCwire

Dismal performance from entire Aggie team

Utah State didn’t bother showing up in their own stadium with the Mountain Division on the line. Boise State showed up and showed why they’re the class of the conference, though, by winning 56-21.

Boise State received the ball to start and promptly drove down the field in under two minutes, going up 7-0. On USU’s first possession, they promptly failed to gain offensive rhythm (again) and punted away to the Broncos. It would be the first of many failed drive attempts for this Utah State offense.

After the Aggie defense forced a punt from the Broncos on their next offensive series, Utah State put together a very nice drive using Jordan Love‘s arm. The Aggies capped off their first touchdown drive with a sick one-handed catch by TE Caleb Repp. It would be only one a few highlights for the Aggies.

Late in the first quarter, with the game tied 7-7, USU got the ball back with some critical momentum. Jordan Love then promptly threw the momentum away with a pass to the flat that was nabbed by Boise defender Jalen Walker for a costly pick six. Boise State never looked back after this (and USU needs to burn that play from its playbook).

Boise State went on to score on five straight offensive drives. Utah State’s defense could not tackle and could not get any stops on third down, a continuation of an alarming trend they have seen this season. There were numerous times on the night where the Broncos’ running backs would easily slip past USU’s defensive line and linebackers. Oftentimes, these gains would be for 7+ yards, ensuring Boise State would have manageable offensive situations all night long for their third-string QB Jaylon Henderson.

At halftime, USU was down 35-7. By the end of the third quarter, it was 56-14. Jordan Love had an average night, throwing for 229 yards on 21-of-36 passes with a touchdown and one interception. Gerold Bright performed well below expectations, rushing for 51 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Adding insult to injury, DJ Williams got two unsportsmanlike penalties in the game, getting disqualified from the game and weakening an already battered secondary.

On the opposing side, Boise RB George Holani had himself a terrific game, rushing for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Backup QB Jaylon Henderson played like a season starter with 187 yards and three touchdown passes with no picks. The Broncos have superior team depth all around and it showed in this game. Utah State couldn’t contain or stop either of these players and the game was never close after the first quarter.

By the end of the night, USU had managed to score 21 points, but most of those came in garbage time with the game well out of reach. QB Henry Colombi ran in the final score of the night for USU and brought the game to a merciful close shortly after that.

Boise State won 56-21 and the remaining people in the stadium were mostly Bronco fans. It was a painful, but not terribly unsurprising end to the home slate of games for USU.

Few silver linings

The game was miserable, but the season has been about where I thought it would be. Assuming Utah State beats a terrible New Mexico team in the regular-season finale, USU will finish with back to back winning seasons. That’s a step in the right direction considering the Aggies had three losing seasons in a row from 2015-2017.

A win over New Mexico would also guarantee USU a bowl game. This will result in extra practices for the younger players on USU’s roster. Coupled with some rest, these bowl practices could prove to be rejuvenating for the team. Aggies will likely be matched up against a winnable opponent from the MAC or C-USA, a salve the Aggies could use after getting roughed up in November.

If nothing else, with all of their weaknesses exposed in this most recent loss, it will help shed additional light on the recruiting areas Gary Andersen needs to address. Focusing on this for next season along with getting as many reps as possible for the young players could pay off down the road. This team has talent, but they need to learn to put it all together.

Just a couple more wins will help ease the pain of some big missed opportunities this year. If Aggies can win out, we’ll all feel better for next year having taken our lumps in stride. And in this author’s case, because I foolishly bet against a fellow MWC beat writer on the outcome of this game, that means I’ll be taking a cream pie in the face.

You’ve earned the right to laugh, Raja (but watch out for basketball season)!

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Boise State at Utah State odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Boise State Broncos at Utah State Aggies sports betting odds and lines, with college football picks, tips and bets.

The Boise State Broncos (9-1, 6-0, MWC Mountain) and Utah State Aggies (6-4, 5-1 MWC Mountain) square off in Logan, Utah at 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday in a key divisional showdown with postseason implications. We analyze the Boise State-Utah State odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Boise State at Utah State: Three things you need to know

1. The Broncos are 0-1 straight up and against the spread in the state of Utah this season, losing 28-25 at BYU Oct. 19 as seven-point favorites.

2. Boise State QB Hank Bachmeier (shoulder) is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury. QBs Chase Cord and Jaylon Henderson have started and held down the fort in the true freshman’s place since he went down vs. Hawaii, and again against San Jose State.

3. Boise State has dominated this series against the number, going 8-1 ATS in the past nine trips to Logan, and 12-3-2 ATS in the past 17 meetings overall. The road team is also 7-3-2 ATS in the past 12 battles.


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Boise State at Utah State: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 9:45 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Boise State 34, Utah State 23

Moneyline (ML)

Boise State (-334) is just too expensive on the road, as there is too much risk and not enough reward. The Broncos will win this game and keep their New Year’s Day bowl hopes alive, though.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Boise State to win would return a profit of $3.00.

Against the Spread (ATS)

BOISE STATE (-8.5, -115) is worth a small-unit play, as it has playmakers all over the offense, including the dynamic WR Khalil Shakir (44-615-4, also two rushing TDs), as well as leading WR John Hightower (37-754-6) and RB George Holani (131-692-5, also two receiving TDs). USU just doesn’t have the same kind of athletes as the Broncos, and it will show, particularly in the second half.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER (52.5, -110) is worth a small-unit play, too, but don’t get crazy. The Over is 9-3-1 in the past 13 meetings, including 4-0 in Logano. However, the Under has dominated for both of these sides lately, including 8-1 in the past nine vs. winning teams for Boise, and 7-1 in the past eight MWC games for USU.

Still, we could see some nice offense, especially with no snow in the forecast; however, it is expected to snow the rest of the week. Sounds like a good excuse to warm up with some spirits at the White Owl in Logan, a great place for drinks in Utah State’s little college town.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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