Washington Huskies (10-2 SU, 7-5 ATS) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2 SU, 7-4-1 ATS)
College Football Bowl Season – Playstation Fiesta Bowl
Date and Time: Saturday, December 30th, 2017 – 4:00 PM EST
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium – Glendale, AZ
TV: ESPN
by Keith F., Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: UW +2/PSU -2
Over/Under Total: 55
One of the College Football Playoff Committee’s New Year’s Six Games, the Playstation Fiesta Bowl is one of college football’s most prestigious and action-filled post-season contests. This year it will feature a match-up of two 2016 conference champions as the B1G’s Penn State Nittany Lions will lock it up with the Pac-12’s Washington Huskies. The two teams will provide plenty of defense for those that love old-fashioned smashmouth football. The affair will be aired live on ESPN for national audiences on Saturday, December 30th, 2017 at 4:00 PM EST. The game will come live from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Penn State and Washington have never met before.
Similar to the identical records the combatants sport, both outfits are congruent in composition. These two outfits seem to be molded out of the same clay. In 2016, Washington crept into the College Football Playoff as the #4 seed when it won the Pac-12 Championship. Penn State was hot on UW’s heels but ended being the first team out in the final rankings despite winning the B1G Championship. This year, Washington and Penn State were a part of the proceedings but two conference losses for each team ultimately cost them both a chance to defend their conference title. Furthermore, the two losses separated both UW and PSU from the playoff conversation.
Both teams are led by coaches that have the Midas touch as they were able to make noticeable strides for previous programs they were employed by. For Penn State’s James Franklin, it was lead Vanderbilt to relevance in the SEC. Washington’s Head Coach Chris Petersen was the man at the helm when Boise State orchestrated a legendary Fiesta Bowl victory against Oklahoma that changed the college landscape in 2005. Furthermore, the Huskies and the Nittany Lions play a physical brand of defense. For the Dawgs of the Pacific Northwest in particular, they have excelled in as they rank among the best in the country in total defense and scoring defense. Both teams also feature quarterbacks that can invigorate the offense with their arms. The most captivating weapons yielded by both outfits would actually be in their running game. Washington’s running back Miles Gaskin is nothing short of a hammer. He has eclipsed the 1,300-yard mark this season and ran for 19 rushing touchdowns whilst doing so. Penn State boasts the services of Saquan Barkley, an all-purpose dynamo who was once favored to win the Heisman Trophy.
From the get-go, the public has gotten all over the Nittany Lions and ceased to stop since. 85% of the cash and 87% of the tickets have come in on the gents from Happy Valley. There are certainly many reasons as to why. Penn State is a more recognized name and a pedigree when it comes to game. By virtue of this narrative alone, expect to pay a price to back the Nittany Lions in this market. In Over/Under markets, we have seen the market diminish by a point to reveal action on the Under. In spite of this, 93% of the cash and 67% of the tickets are with the Over. In Money Line markets, the Huskies are priced at +115 whilst the Nittany Lions enter as a -135 favorite.
As a result of some of the fanfare surrounding PSU in this game, it appears we can get the better team at the better price in this scenario. UW comes in with added momentum after they crushed their arch rival Washington State in the Apple Cup to cap off their campaign. The Cougars were ranked as high as #8 in some polls this season yet Washington made a mockery of them. Penn State since losing to Ohio State and Michigan State in back-to-back games has won their last three against Rutgers, Nebraska, and Maryland. Nevertheless, those results are none too impressive as none of the teams mentioned gained bowl eligibility. UW will enter with a chip on its shoulder due to the lack of respect shown. We’ll pass on the points and take the Huskies outright on the Money Line.
Keith’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: WASHINGTON +115 (MONEY LINE) – Where are you betting this game? Wanna bet it for FREE? Simply deposit $100 to $1000 at MyBookie! and use promo code PRDCT14 and they will match your deposit with FREE PLAY loot!
