Washington State Cougars vs. Colorado Buffaloes Betting Preview
Where: Folsom Field — Boulder, Colorado
When: Saturday, November 19, 2016, 3:30 PM ET
Line: Washington State Cougars (+4.5) vs. Colorado Buffaloes (-4.5); total: 60.0 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
Writer’s Pick: Colorado (-4.5)
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Betting on the Washington State Cougars (+4.5)
There’s just no stopping the Cougars right now. Washington State extended its winning run to eight games with a resounding 56-21 victory over the California Golden Bears on Saturday. It was another convincing performance by Washington State who climbed up to 20th place in the latest AP Top 25 poll. That’s quite a turnaround for the Cougars who started the season 0-2.
Providing the impetus for the Cougars’ latest win was their impeccable passing game. The Cougars passed for a whopping 400 yards in their win against the Bears. Luke Falk was simply unstoppable in this contest, completing 36-of-50 passes for 373 yards and five touchdowns. Falk has now thrown for over 300 yards in eight of his 10 games this season. Washington State is second in the country in passing offense, averaging 385.5 yards per game through the air this season.
The Cougars will have their work cut out for them, however, against a Colorado side that is 10th in the FBS in passing defense, allowing just 176.9 yards per game through the air this season. To make matters worse for the Cougars, they will be lining up without their star wide receiver River Cracraft. He tore his left ACL in last week’s win against California and will miss the rest of the season. With Cracraft out, the onus is on Gabe Marks to deliver the goods for the Cougars. He set the Pac-12 career receptions record last week with 295.
Washington State is 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS on the road this season.
Betting on the Colorado Buffaloes (-4.5)
Colorado is another team that’s peaking at exactly the right time. The Buffaloes cruised to their fourth straight win on Saturday with an impressive 49-24 thumping of Arizona. It was another incredible display by the Buffaloes who soared into 12th place in the latest AP Top 25 poll. That’s quite an accomplishment for Colorado who went 2-25 in the Pac-12 during Mike MacIntyre’s first three seasons as head coach.
Leading the way for Colorado in this victory was quarterback Sefo Liufau. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns in the win against Arizona. Liufau’s proving to be quite a dual weapon for the Buffaloes as well, rushing for 190 yards and two scores over his last four games. The Buffs have proven this season that they can run the football, averaging 204.7 yards per game on the ground this campaign.
What makes Colorado such a tough team to beat, though, is its exemplary defense. They are ninth in the FBS in scoring defense, allowing just 17.9 points per game this season. The Buffs have forced a turnover in a national-best 23 consecutive games and are tied for 18th in turnover margin at 0.7 per contest. The Buffs will need to produce that same kind of defensive effort if they are to beat Washington State this coming weekend. The Cougars exploded for 654 total yards in their recent win against Arizona. They will need to put the clamps on Washington State junior quarterback Luke Falk who is second nationally with 361.0 passing yards per game.
Colorado is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS at home this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Colorado (-4.5) edges past Washington State, 35-28.
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