College Football Betting – LSU Tigers vs. Washington Huskies

BetOnline NCAA Football Betting Odds: LSU -17.5, Total 53.5

Here are some of the NCAA College football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

• LSU has covered one of its last seven games
• LSU has won 18 of its last 25 games SU
• LSU has covered three of its last nine road games
• LSU has won nine of its last 12 road games SU
• LSU has played six of its last eight road games OVER the total
• WSH has lost its last 14 games SU
• WASH is 0-10 ATS in its last ten games
• WASH has lost its last eight home games SU
• WASH is 0-6 ATS in its last six home games
• WASH has played eight of its last 11 home games OVER the total

It could well be that LSU has solved its quarterback problem, as Jordan Jefferson finished up last season and played a starring role in a 38-3 blowout of Georgia Tech in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Charles Scott looks like he may be poised to take his place among the top running backs in the country. LSU is always going to be talented, but some of that new talent is going to have to step in on the offensive line, or neither Jefferson nor Scott are going to function at full capacity.

A quick look at the trends above will tell you Washington has been down a bad road. The Huskies didn’t win a game last season, and failed to cover any of their last ten games. They were snake-bitten, however, as they had to play without Jake Locker from the fourth game forward. Locker is a great athlete who has the ability to keep defense off-balance with his running ability, gaining 986 yards in the ground as a freshman. Locker has had problems with his throwing accuracy in the past, but he’ll benefit from the tutelage of new head coach Steve Sarkisian, who comes over after being the offensive coordinator at USC.

So the Huskies are healthier, and they have 18 starters coming back from a year ago, which should come in handy as things get rough early. In the first five games Washington has to play USC and Notre Dame, as well as LSU. They may not manage a lot of wins this season, but with Sarkisian they will go into battle with a little more of a plan. Locker could do some damage against an LSU defense that changed defensive coordinators and has a lot to prove, after allowing 30 points or more on five different occasions last year, which is not like them.

These teams haven’t met since 1983, when Washington came to Baton Rouge and walked with a 40-14 victory. LSU has won six straight season openers, but they are no good at beating the number, covering just six of their last 20 as a favorite. This is a rare artificial turf game for them (Ole Miss is the only other one on the regular season schedule). We’ll take the points with Washington, the 17.5-point underdog in the BetOnline NCAA college football betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: WASHINGTON +17.5 **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)