Texas vs. Washington Prediction, Preview, and Odds
After a slew of bowl games that brought us some of the highs and lows of college football, we’ve reached the College Football Playoff. The #3 Texas Longhorns collide with the #2 Washington Huskies as the teams meet in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans Monday night. Texas earned their spot here by routing #18 Oklahoma State 49-21 in the Big 12 championship game on December 2, covering the line as a 14.5-point favorite. Washington downed #5 Oregon for the second time this season, prevailing 34-31 in the Pac-12 championship game December 1, winning outright as a 9.5-point underdog. In the all-time series between the programs, the Longhorns own a 3-2 advantage though it was the Huskies prevailing 27-20 in the most recent meeting, which came in the Valero Alamo Bowl on December 29, 2022.
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Texas Longhorns Seeking to Advance to CFP National Championship Game
Texas shrugged off a loss in the Red River Rivalry to #12 Oklahoma as they won their final seven games, capped by a rout of #18 Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game, to earn a spot in the CFP. The Longhorns enter this game 12-1 overall and they were 8-1 in their final season in the conference as they transition to the SEC next year. Against Oklahoma State, Texas jumped in front 14-0 less than seven minutes into the game and led the rest of the way. The Longhorns were up 21-7 after the opening quarter, 35-14 at the half and 42-14 after three quarters en route to the victory. Texas piled up a 662-281 advantage in total offense, rolled up a 33-13 edge in first downs, dominated time of possession by a 40:06 to 19:54 margin and forced two turnovers while committing only one in the game.
On the year, the Longhorns are 18 in the nation in passing offense as they average 286.8 yards per game through the air while they are 24 in rushing offense by racking up 189.1 yards per contest on the ground. Texas is 16 in the FBS in scoring offense as they average 36.2 points per game while they are 12 in scoring defense by allowing 17.5 points a contest. Quinn Ewers is 248 of 351 passing for 3,161 yards with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 21 yards and five scores on the ground this season. Maalik Murphy (40 of 71, 477 yards, three TD, three INT) and Arch Manning (two of five, 30 yards) were next up on the depth chart. Jonathon Brooks leads the team on the ground with 187 carries for 1,139 yards with 10 touchdowns on the season. CJ Baxter (129 carries, 595 yards, four TD) and Jaydon Blue (56 carries, 339 yards, two TD) are also effective in their opportunities. Xavier Worthy leads the team with 73 receptions for 969 yards and five touchdowns this season. Adonai Mitchell (51 receptions, 813 yards, 10 TD), Ja’Tavion Sanders (39 catches, 607 yards, two TD), Jordan Whittington (38 grabs, 435 yards, TD) and Brooks (25 receptions, 286 yards, TD) are all over 200 receiving yards this season. Bert Auburn has hit all 52 extra point attempts and 28 of 34 on field goal attempts with a long of 54 this season.
Murphy entered the transfer portal so Manning is the backup quarterback at this point in time. Brooks (knee) was lost for the year mid-November, pushing Baxter and Blue up on the depth chart. Worthy (leg), starting corner Ryan Watts (undisclosed) and corner Austin Jordan (undisclosed) are all questionable for this contest so watch for updates.
Washington Huskies Shoot to Remain Unbeaten
Washington edged #5 Oregon for the second time this season to earn the Pac-12 championship in their final season in the conference: they’ll be part of the Big Ten next season. The Huskies come into this game 13-0 overall and they were 9-0 in the Pac-12 this season. Against Oregon, Washington led 10-0 after the opening quarter, 20-10 at the half and found themselves down 24-20 after three quarters before regrouping. The Huskies took the lead for good on a Dillon Johnson one-yard touchdown run with 12:23 to play, extended to a 10-point edge with 2:44 to play and then ran out the clock after Oregon made it a three-point game. Washington held a 481-363 advantage in total offense, picked up 26 first downs while allowing 17 and controlled the clock by a 37:08 to 22:52 margin. Both teams turned the ball over once in the contest.
This season, the Huskies are 1 in the nation in passing offense with 343.8 yards per game through the air while they are 100 in rushing offense with 125.2 yards per contest. Washington is 10 in the FBS in scoring offense with 37.7 points per game and stand 51 in scoring defense by allowing an average of 23.6 points per contest. Michael Penix Jr. has completed 307 of 466 passes for 4,218 yards with 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions while adding three scores on the ground. Dylan Morris (nine of 14, 224 yards, TD, INT) has seen limited work under center. Dillon Johnson leads the team on the ground with 201 carries for 1,113 yards and 14 scores this season. Tybo Rogers (38 carries, 163 yards) and Will Nixon (31 carries, 194 yards, TD) have had their share of work as well. In the passing game, Jalen McMillan is fourth on the team with 34 receptions for 468 yards and three scores this season. Ja’Lynn Polk (60 grabs, 1000 yards, eight TD), Germie Bernard (31 catches, 371 yards, two TD), Jack Westover (35 grabs, 332 yards, four TD) and Rome Odunze (81 catches, 1428 yards, 13 TD) are all over the 300-yard mark in receiving yards. Grady Gross has hit all 58 extra points and 13 of 17 field goal attempts with a long of 47 this season. Addison Shrock hit his lone extra point attempt and has not attempted a field goal this season.
Washington is pretty much at full strength here. Backup QB Dylan Morris is in the transfer portal but is sticking with the team throughout the playoffs.
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Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Rating:
This one is going to be an entertaining contest between a pair of teams that are high-octane offensively and fairly stout defensively. Texas shrugged off their lone loss this season by rolling to seven straight wins heading into this one, even winning twice without Ewers when he missed time with a sprained AC joint. Losing Brooks is a big problem for Texas and they have to hope that Worthy is somewhere close to 100% after being in a boot after the Big 12 title game. Washington has been overlooked despite all their success this season, as we saw in the Pac-12 title game against Oregon where they won as a near double-digit underdog. Given what we’ve seen from Penix and the Huskies’ offense, you can’t count them out of anything. Look for Washington to earn the victory here to advance to the CFP National Championship Game.
Prediction: Washington Huskies +4.5
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Rating:
Texas enters this game having seen the under post an 8-5 mark in their 13 games this season. The Longhorns have stayed under the number in four of their seven games away from Austin this season. That includes going over in both their neutral site contests: the Red River Rivalry game with Oklahoma and the Big 12 title game against Oklahoma State. Washington has stayed under the total in seven of their 13 games on the year. The Huskies stayed under the number in four of their six games away from the Emerald City this season. Both teams have averaged better than 36 points per game but the defenses are decent enough. Somewhere in the range of 31 to 34 points should be enough to win this game so look for this contest to end up just short of the number.
Prediction: Under 63.5
Chris King has been immersed in the world of professional and collegiate sports for more than three decades. Whether it's playing pickup games or being involved in organized sports to being a fan, he's checked all the boxes. From the NFL to arena football, the NHL to the KHL, the NBA to the WNBA to college hoops, and even MLB to the KBO. If it's out there, he's covered it and bet on it as well, as Chris has been an expert bettor in his career. Before joining Winners and Whiners back in 2015, his work appeared around the internet and in print. He's written books for Ruckus Books about college basketball, the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, golf, and the World Cup. If you're looking for the inside track on hitting a winner, do yourself a favor and read what Chris has to say.
