The Valero Alamo Bowl is just down the road from the University of Texas, giving them a virtual home game against the Washington Huskies. Texas put up an 8-4 record that included a one-point loss to Alabama – but also a disappointing loss to TCU. Washington had an impressive offense on the season, and with Texas tailback Bijan Robinson having opted out of the game to prepare for the draft, it will be interesting to see what quarterback Quinn Ewers can deliver. Check out our NCAA Football Bowl betting thoughts on this matchup between Big 12 and Pac-12 teams.
NCAAF Preview: Alamo Bowl
Washington Huskies vs Texas Longhorns
When: Thursday, December 29, 2022, 9:00 pm ET
Where: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
TV: ESPN
Radio: No National Broadcast
Live Stream: Sling TV
NCAAF Odds: Texas -3 / O/U 67.5
→ Why should you bet on the Longhorns?
We keep hearing about how the Longhorns are ready to turn the corner and return to national contender status, but we are still waiting for that signature result. The Longhorns’ best win of the season came over Kansas State, and since they only posted a 2-2 record away from home, having a crowd largely clad in burnt orange could give them an intangible edge in this matchup.
The Texas offense has improved all season long, but the running game was keyed by Robinson (18 TD, 6.1 yards per carry). Quinn Ewers, who graduated from high school in Texas early to enroll ahead of time at Ohio State, only to transfer down to Austin, comes in with a 14:6 TD:INT ratio. Ewers has shown the ability to deliver the ball well down the field, but he will bear a lot more of the offensive burden this time.
→ Why should you put your money on the Huskies?
Washington posted a 10-win season in the first year of the Kalen DeBoer era. They started out with four wins before a pair of losses that put their shot at a conference title in jeopardy, but they finished with six wins in a row. Their home record (7-0) has been much better than their road record (3-2), so the travel could pose an issue, but the Huskies have all of their players opted in, and the only key injury is to start tight end Jack Westover, who remains in the concussion protocol.
Washington leads the nation in passing offense thanks to the dynamic work of quarterback Michael Penix Jr (29 TD, 7 INT), and the Huskies are second in the nation in total offense despite the lack of an elite running game. Penix should be able to find receivers down the field, so it would not surprise me to see this turn into a bit of a track meet, if Ewers can keep up.
→ Final Score and Prediction
Obviously, traveling to Texas gives the Huskies a bit of a disadvantage, but their offense has been more productive overall and still has all of its key skill players available. I predict that Washington will come in and post a 37-30 upset.
College Football Betting Odds
Love betting NCAA football? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date college football lines
