The undefeated Washington State Cougars are traveling to Idaho this week to face future Pac-12 foe, the Boise State Broncos, in a potential After Dark special as Week 5 of the college football season rolls around.
Who will prevail in this matchup of future conference opponents? Let’s analyze everything you need for the latest betting odds, spread analysis, and our final prediction for Washington State vs. Boise State.
Washington State vs. Boise State Betting and DFS Preview
All Washington State vs. Boise State odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.
- Spread
Boise State -7.5 - Moneyline
Washington State +210, Boise State -258 - Over/Under
65.5 - Game time
10 p.m. ET - Location
Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID - Predicted Weather at Kick
70 degrees, 6 mph winds, and warm - How to Watch
FS1
The Cougars enter the game battle-tested after wins over Washington and San Jose State, while the Broncos are looking to justify their No. 25 AP ranking after explosive performances against Georgia Southern and Portland State and a close loss to Oregon in Eugene.
The Cougars are 3-1 ATS (against the spread) this year, and the Broncos are 1-2, making the 7.5-point spread interesting as a play for Washington State. Both teams put up plenty of points, although in the most competitive games for each team, the final total was well below season averages.
Boise State has won both games in which it was favored. Meanwhile, Washington State has won both games in which it was underdogs, so this game presents a unique conundrum despite most of the early public money going toward the Cougars.
This should be a competitive game, and a 70-point total doesn’t seem that far-fetched with good weather conditions and a late start. Thus, going over here is a decent play if the line doesn’t garner much interest.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
- QB John Mateer, Washington State
- QB Maddux Madsen, Boise State
- RB Wayshawn Parker, Washington State
- WR Kyle Williams, Washington State
- WR Josh Meredith, Washington State
- RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
- WR Cameron Camper, Boise State
- TE Matt Lauter, Boise State
For the Broncos, it’s the Ashton Jeanty show, and they should be anxious to put the potential Heisman Trophy candidate to work after he played just one half against Portland State last week.
Maddux Madsen has been solid for the Broncos so far this year, with five touchdowns and just one interception on 52 completions. However, he’s still looking for a breakout game, but it’s unlikely he finds it against a Cougars defense that already has five interceptions on the season.
For the Cougars, John Mateer has been a major bright spot in his first four games, with 11 TDs through the air and five rushing scores. He’s thrown four interceptions already, but Mateer’s ability to move the ball as a dual threat makes him a great play this week.
Prediction for Washington State vs. Boise State
A fun under-the-radar matchup in a late-night game on the blue turf has all the makings of a thriller, especially for two teams that seem so evenly matched.
Both teams depend heavily on a star offensively, and while Jeanty and Mateer should headline the game it may be the defenses that stand out this week. The Broncos are still looking for their first interception of the season despite forcing three fumbles in three games.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The Cougars, on the other hand, have been excellent at taking the ball away from opponents, with eight total turnovers on three forced fumbles and five interceptions.
WSU will do everything it can to stop Jeanty on defense, but it remains to be seen if that’s even possible. Where Boise will want to make a statement will be on third downs. They’ve done well in wins, converting at a 66.7% rate compared to just 47% in the lone loss to the Ducks.
The spread for this one feels large, and it may be that Washington State doesn’t have enough up front to stop Boise State’s run game, but doubt the Cougars’ defense at your own peril. They have 23 tackles for loss to go with the strong turnover margin, and they’ve faced some talented teams, including the common opponent in Portland State.
It comes down to turnovers in this one. If Mateer can limit the mistakes and Washington State continues to force turnovers on defense, this one will go in favor of the Cougars.
Prediction: Washington State 27, Boise State 26
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