College Football Picks: Washington Huskies vs. Baylor Bears

The Washington Huskies (7-5) will face off with the Baylor Bears (9-3) Thursday night in the Valero Alamo Bowl inside the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Washington Huskies vs. Baylor Bears

The Baylor Bears are the only offense nationally that averages 300-plus passing and 200-plus rushing yards per game

Washington finished off the regular season with three losses in its final four games, but will make its 32nd bowl appearance tonight.  The Huskies have tallied a 16-14-1 overall record in the postseason, which includes a 19-7 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 2010 Holiday Bowl.  Defensively, the team is certainly going to be tested against one of the best offenses in college football, ranking 116th in allowing 283.8 passing yards per game.  Washington is 6-5 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Huskies have registered a solid 6-1 record when head coach Steve Sarkisian is given more than a week to prepare for an opponent.  Part of that success is due to a coaching staff that has been together for three years now.  Washington is definitely going to move the ball in this contest, coming in with a balanced offensive attack that’s led by quarterback Keith Price and running back Chris Polk.  The duo will be facing a much-maligned stop unit that finished the regular season ranked 114th in total defense.

Baylor has won nine games in a season for the first time since 1986 and will be looking for just its second 10-win season in program history.  The Bears are dynamic offensively and led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III.  He has piloted the nation’s only offensive attack that averages 300-plus passing and 200-plus rushing yards per game.  It’s important to note that the team’s schedule has been ranked as the eighth-toughest nationally heading into tonight’s prime-time showdown.  Baylor is 10-5 ATS as a favorite the last two-plus campaigns.

The Bears have plenty of weapons at Griffin’s disposal, starting with star wide receiver Kendall Wright, who ranks second nationally with 1,572 receiving yards.  Running back Terrance Ganaway is a nice option in the backfield, pacing all Big 12 Conference runners with 1,347 rushing yards.  Baylor managed to score 40-plus points in eight of 12 games this season, posting an 8-0 record when hitting that particular mark.  The program is 8-9 in its previous 17 bowl appearances, picking up its last win in the 1992 John Hancock Bowl.

Bettors will likely back the Huskies due to their 5-1 ATS mark in bowl games, while the Bears are 1-4 ATS on a natural surface.

Recommendation:  Washington Huskies (+10)