Washington Huskies vs. Auburn Tigers betting picks – NCAA odds & tips

Washington Huskies vs. Auburn Tigers
Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, Georgia, 3:30 PM EST Saturday September 1, 2018

Betting Line: Auburn -4.5
Over/Under: 48.5 points

The first week of college football provides us with a blockbuster game where two top 10 teams face off.

Washington is the 6th ranked team in the nation with Auburn ranked 9th and while this game is at a neutral site Auburn is in the South, so they will likely have some home field advantage.

The line at Bovada had Auburn as the 2.5-point favorite at opening, but they are now at -1.5 with a total of 48.5.

This is the first ever meeting between these teams, who both have solid BCS playoff chances this season.

Washington has a solid team on both sides of the ball and one big key is that they return 17 starters from last season’s team, which finished 10-3 ending on a sour note losing to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl. The defense may be the strength of the key, but the Huskies have two key players back on offense in senior QB Jake Browning and RB Myles Gaskin. These are the two big guns for UW and last season Browning passed for 2,719 yards with 19 TD and only five interceptions and Gaskin got it done on the ground with 1,380 yards, averaging 6.2 yards per carry, and 21 TD.

The Huskies ranked 8th in total defense last season, but they also played in the weaker Pac 12. In the SEC Auburn ranked 14th in the nation last season on D and they may be even better this season. Browning and company have a tall task trying to move the chains on the Tigers, but UW does have a good offensive line with some experienced players. The trenches may be the key factor in the game for Washington, as they have to keep Auburn out of the backfield.

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Auburn finished 10-4 last season and lost to an undefeated UCF team in the Peach Bowl. The Tigers return starting QB Jarrett Stidham, who passed for 3,158 with 18 TD and six interceptions last season. They also return their top WR in Ryan Davis (815 yards), but they did lose some receivers. The big loss on the offensive side of the football is Kenyon Johnson, who rushed for 1,391 yards last season. Kam Martin is the leading returning rusher for the Tigers and he and Eli Stove combined to rush for 768 yards last season.

Auburn’s defense lost four starts and while the front seven of the D should be a great unit the secondary has some concerns. That is why it is key for the Tigers in this game to get to Browning and not give him time in the pocket.

Last season neither of these teams were great betting ones with Washington at 7-6 ATS and Auburn at 6-7-1 ATS.

Washington betting trends

• Washington is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games
• Washington has an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 games

Auburn betting trends

• Auburn is 1-5 in their last 6 non-conference games
• Auburn has an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 games

Washington Huskies vs. Auburn Tigers betting prediction

Many are going with Auburn in this game, as they have the better defense. However, I am not one of the many, as I will take UW in this opening game.

The Huskies’ offensive line will play very well in this game and give Browning time and open up holes for Gaskin.

Washington will put up points and while their D will not keep Auburn from doing the same the Huskies will come out on top not only covering the spread, but also winning the game.

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