The Washington Huskies and the Auburn Tigers will open their respective 2018 season schedules away from their homes, but the latter could consider this match as a home game, as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is only 100 miles away from Auburn. That said, this matchup is expected to be tightly contested between two proud programs who are looking to rebound from a letdown and Bowl-winless 2017 campaign.
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Betting Preview for the Washington Huskies vs Auburn Tigers Week 1 College Football Game on Sep 1 2018
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
When: Saturday, September 1, 2018, 3:30 PM ET
Line: Washington Huskies (+1.5) vs Auburn Tigers (-1.5) – view all 2018 NCAAF lines
TV Broadcast: ABC
Betting on the Washington Huskies
The Huskies were one of the most balanced squads last season, and from the look of the current composition of their lineup, they should be solid on both ends of the field again this year. A total of 17 starters from last year are suiting up for Washington again, none bigger than quarterback Jake Browning, who is an experienced arm under center, though, he regressed in 2017 after a fantastic 2016 campaign.
From recording 3,430 passing yards and 43 touchdowns in in 2016, Browning only posted 2,719 passing yards and 19 touchdowns in 2017. He will look to get those numbers up in his senior year, but he needs the likes of junior receiver Chico McClatcher and much-hyped recruit Marquis Spiker to replace the numbers put up by last Dante Pettis, who led the team last year with 761 receiving yards. Pettis is now in the NFL. The Huskies are also counting on tight end Hunter Bryant to step up after finishing behind Pettis last season with 331 receiving yards.
Washington’s defense should pose headaches to opposing receivers with six starters returning to the secondary. Last season, Washington was third in the Pac-12 with just 197.2 passing yards allowed per game.
The Huskies are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games as the road team.
Betting on the Auburn Tigers
The tail end of the Tigers 2017 campaign was a bitter pill to swallow. After clinching the title in the SEC West, the Tigers fell to Georgia in the SEC title game before falling prey to UCF in the Peach Bowl.
Only six starters from last year are making a return to Auburn, but among them is perhaps the most important player on the team in Jarrett Stidham, who recorded 3,158 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns against six interceptions. He’s expected to carry a heavier load this season with running back Kerryon Johnson now in the NFL. But if Kam Martin can continue the school’s streak of having a 1,000-yard rusher to 10 seasons this year, then Auburn’s offense will likely be just fine. The big question, though, is will the team’s offensive line be up to the task, as it lost four starters, who are going to be replaced by freshmen.
Over on the other side of the ball, Auburn’s defense should be rock solid, as potential NFL Draft picks Derrick Brown, Dontavius Russell and Marlon Davidson are back for another year to punish opposing offensive pieces up front. Last season, Auburn held opponents to just 19.2 points per game.
Auburn is 10-0 SU and 5-3-2 ATS in its last 10 games as the home team.
Writer’s Prediction
Washington wins, 27-23.
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