2013 College Football Bowl Picks: Fight Hunger Bowl Odds and Predictions – BYU vs Washington 12/27/2013

2013 College Football Bowl Picks: Fight Hunger Bowl Odds and Predictions – BYU vs Washington 12/27/2013: A pair of eight-win teams will battle it out when the BYU Cougars (8-4) take on the Washington Huskies (8-4, 5-4 Pac-12) in the Fight Hunger Bowl. The Huskies struggled against the top teams in the Pac-12 all year, but they did close the year with four wins in their final five games. The Cougars also had issues with the tougher teams on their schedule, but their eight wins were tied for the most of any independent program during the regular season. A nine-win season is on the line for both sides, and Washington is a 3-point favorite.

For the Cougars, a powerful ground game has been their calling card all year. BYU ranks 10th in the country in rushing with dual-threat quarterback Taysom Hill and running back Jamaal Williams doing a majority of the damage. Both players have topped 1,200 yards and both are averaging more than five yards per carry. On the flip side, the Cougars rank just 75th in the country in passing and rank outside the top 50 in points per game. Meanwhile, BYU’s defense has been solid throughout the year, and the Cougars rank in the top 25 nationally in points allowed heading into the bowl game.

Washington has enjoyed a balanced offensive attack all season. Quarterback Keith Price has thrown 20 touchdowns for a passing game that ranks in the top 30 nationally. Among his many quality targets is athletic tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who leads the team with seven touchdown grabs. Meanwhile, running back Bishop Sankey has been one of the best in the country, rushing for 18 touchdowns and almost 1,800 yards. Overall, Washington ranks in the top 20 nationally in scoring. Defensively, the Huskies rank 34th in the country in points allowed.

The Cougars Win If:

If BYU is going to win the game, establishing the run early is a must. The Cougars are at their best when they can move the ball primarily on the ground, wearing down the opposing defense while controlling the pace. Controlling the clock will be even more important in this matchup because BYU will want to keep Washington’s powerful offense off the field as much as possible. When the Cougars’ defense is on the field, limiting Washington’s success on early downs will be crucial in order to make the Huskies’ balanced attack a little more predictable.

The Huskies Win If:

If the Huskies come out firing on all cylinders on offense, they are going to have the leg up in this matchup. BYU needs to be able to run the ball in order to be successful, and if Washington jumps out to an early lead, the Cougars are going to be forced to try to throw the ball to keep pace. Along the same lines, Washington’s defense needs to focus on stopping BYU’s ground attack, especially on early downs to force Hill to become a pocket passer. If Washington can force BYU to rely on its passing game in order to keep pace, the Huskies are going to be in great shape.

Bottom Line:

While these two teams have identical records, Washington compiled its 8-4 record against a brutal schedule. More importantly, the Huskies held their own in close losses to UCLA and Stanford, and they didn’t lose a single game to an unranked opponent all year. In addition, Washington was also able to contain the high-powered rushing attacks of Arizona and Stanford, which bodes well for the Huskies’ chances of slowing down the Cougars’ ground game. Meanwhile, BYU struggled when it played teams from power conferences, failing to score more than 17 points in losses to Utah, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and a 2-10 Virginia team. The Cougars’ run-heavy attack just isn’t going to be able to keep pace with the weapons that the Huskies’ balanced offense brings to the table.

Prediction: Washington Huskies (-3) Cover the Spread

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