Live Free Picks
Home Of 500 Handicappers
For the first time in 29 years, the University of Washington will travel to play in an SEC stadium as the Huskies face a major challenge in No. 3 LSU. The Tigers are 23.5-point favorites on WagerWeb.com.
Washington didn’t look too good in its 21-12 win over San Diego State. Safety Will Shamburger returned a fumble 44 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, Keith Price threw for 222 yards and a TD to Kasen Williams, and Washington raced to an early lead then held on. UW forced three turnovers, sacked Aztecs quarterback Ryan Katz four times and picked up its first defensive touchdown since November 2010. Washington allowed 327 total yards, well under the 453 yards per game average allowed a year ago under previous defensive coordinator Nick Holt – Justin Wilcox was hired for that job after UW had one of the nation’s worst defenses in 2011.
But Washington lost two starters in the game. Running back Jesse Callier tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and will miss the season. Sophomore Bishop Sankey, who had 22 carries for 66 yards and a score in the opener, will get the bulk of carries. Starting guard Ben Riva fractured his forearm and will be out weeks.
LSU, meanwhile, won 41-14 at home vs. North Texas. Running backs Kenny Hilliard and Alfred Blue combined for 264 yards rushing while Zach Mettenberger added 192 yards passing. which gained 508 yards of total offense, had its best output since gaining 595 against Louisiana Tech in 2007, a span of 58 games. Hilliard, a sophomore, led the team with 141 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns, while Blue added 123 yards on a game-high 16 runs. Both totals were career bests to help LSU net 316 yards on the ground.
Third-ranked LSU will put the nation’s longest home field winning streak (18) on the line Saturday. LSU’s 18-game home field winning streak is one shy of tying the school record of 19 set from Oct. 15, 2005 through Nov. 10, 2007 and is the longest in the nation right now. LSU also has won a national-best 38 straight regular-season non-conference games, one shy of the FBS record. LSU has won 22 straight games during the month of September, a streak that dates back to a 7-3 loss at Auburn in 2006.
Washington and LSU have met just twice before and not since 2009 when the Tigers beat UW in Seattle in Steve Sarkisian’s debut with the Huskies.
Huskies are 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Huskies are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games. Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS loss. Tigers are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game. Tigers are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
Place your NCAA college football bets at our online sportsbook!
