College Football on the Rise in the State of Washington

Sep 24, 2013

The state of Washington has two very good college football teams in Washington and Washington State as the Huskies are 3-0 this season, while the Cougars are 3-1.  Let’s take a closer look at both teams below:

Washington Huskies

  • Washington is averaging 42.7 points per game this season, including 5.8 yards per rush play, 10.4 yards per pass attempt and 629 total yards (7.5 yards per play);
  • Overall, the Huskies are 0.6 yards per rush play, 1.4 yards per pass attempt and 0.6 yards per play better than average offensively in 2013;
  • Washington is also 0.2 yards per rush play, 1.9 yards per pass attempt and 1.1 yards per play better than average defensively under head coach Steve Sarkisian.

Washington welcomes Arizona on Saturday in a series that has seen the home team go a perfect 5-0 SU and ATS.  Newly renovated Husky Stadium gives Washington a huge home field advantage, and the Huskies are 11-3 ATS at home over the last three seasons.  More importantly, Washington is +350 yards per game this season (#3 in NCAA), whereas the Wildcats are +121 yards per game.

Washington State Cougars

  • Despite averaging 31.0 points per game, the Cougars are actually 1.3 yards per rush attempt worse than average offensively.  However, Washington State is 0.1 yards per pass attempt (65.5% completion rate) and 0.1 yards per play better than average overall;
  • Mike Leach’s defense has been very good in 2013 as the Cougars are limiting opponents to 12.0 points per game, including 3.5 yards per rush play, 4.9 yards per pass attempt and 265 total yards (4.0 yards per play; 22.1 yards per point);
  • Overall, Washington State is 0.3 yards per rush play, 2.2 yards per pass attempt and 1.0 yards per play better than average defensively in 2013.

Washington State plays host to a very good Stanford team who absolutely dominated Arizona State last week.  Interestingly, the visitor is 10-3 ATS in this series, including four consecutive covers.  Stanford is also 12-3 ATS as road favorites, 11-2 ATS following a home win and 9-1 ATS away from home after the first month of the season.  With that said, the oddsmakers are making it very difficult to buck the ten-point home underdog that is 4-1 SU and 5-0 ATS dating back to last year’s Apple Cup and is playing with a lot of confidence.  Mike Leach has one of the most improved teams in the nation and the Cardinal better not be sleeping on the Cougars Saturday.