Texas Longhorns vs. Washington Huskies: Alamo Bowl Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 12/29/2022

by Chuck Sommers

Sunday, Dec 25, 2022
Alamo Bowl

Time: 9 p.m. ET
Venue: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Where to watch: ESPN

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Texas -3.5; Texas -170, Washington +145; O/U 67
FanDuel: Texas -3.5; Texas -172, Washington +142; O/U 67.5
BetMGM: Texas -3.5; Texas -175, Washington +145; O/U 67.5
Caesars: Texas -3; Texas -154, Washington +130; O/U 67.5

Season record
No. 20 Texas: 8-4
No. 12 Washington: 10-2

Bowl season is here! There are 42 games that are going to be determining how this season ends. We appreciate you for hanging with us during this college football season, and you know it’s not over yet. We’re going to keep on rolling and giving your our best picks over the course of the next month. All the way up until the College Football Playoff, which is going to have some incredible games. Do you have the right idea when you head to the books for these important games? Our champion handicappers surely have you covered. Will Rogers is running an impressive 24-11-0 in the last month. Al McMordie has also been cashing in heavily with a 40-29-1 mark in college football over the last 30 days. Our guys here have you ready to go for what should be an exciting week. Be tuned to bigal.com for everything!

Texas - Washington preview, analysis and prediction


Texas analysis
 
Texas back? Not sure yet. Get back to me after this Alamo Bowl. The Texas Longhorns are back in the bowl picture, albeit not in the game they’d probably like to be, but at least it’s a good start for Steve Sarkisian and this group. The Longhorns had a good, strong finish to the season, going 6-2 in their final eight along with a 5-3 run against the spread, including three of their final four which were all outright wins. Texas nearly pulled off its biggest win of the year in the 17-10 loss to TCU on Nov. 12, but followed that with putting up 55 and 38 points against Kansas and Baylor, respectively, in the final two games of the season. But taking this with a grain of salt: Kansas had been without its star quarterback Jalon Daniels leading up to that game, then took out an average Baylor program that is coming off a loss in their bowl game to Air Force. This team is going to go as far as Quinn Ewers and Bijan Robinson can take them. In the finale against Baylor, Ewers went 12 of 16 for 194 yards and two touchdowns, while Robinson did his usual thing in running for 179 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Texas has to try and find that production once Robinson leaves for the NFL Draft this spring. How they get there is going to be anyone’s guess, but Texas has a bright future with how this offense was ran this year. That’s one way to get there.
 
Washington analysis
 
So, I get that the Alamo Bowl can be a prominent bowl for those that get there. But sometimes it is quite crazy that a 10-win team like the Washington Huskies — a team that almost found a way to win the Pac-12 — did not get any recognition in playing for a more pristine, well-acknowledged bowl game. But they should be acknowledged for their work this year, but not enough to avoid being 3-point underdogs against the Longhorns. The Huskies closed the year with six straight wins, most notably that 37-34 win in Oregon on Nov. 12 that put a giant wrench in the Pac-12’s plans. Against the spread, the Huskies lost five straight before covering their final three. And the reason why they got there was the play of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who erupted after four pedestrian years at Indiana for 4,354 yards, 29 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. During this six-game winning streak, Penix threw for 2,310 of those yards, 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions while completing 68 percent of his passes. If not for the ridiculous talent of riches at quarterback in the Pac-12, there’s a chance Penix could’ve been the top quarterback in the conference. Unfortunately, those two losses to UCLA and Arizona State are going to be the big blemishes on this year. But what a year it was for the Huskies overall.
 
Prediction
 
This game is going to come down to the quarterbacks because this is going to be the stiffest run defense game we’ve seen. Washington gives up just 127 yards on the ground and gets to put that against one of the best running backs in the country. Texas also gives up 123 yards on the ground, which means it’s Ewers vs. Penix. If that’s the case, give me the underdog. Washington 30, Texas 24

Betting trends

Washington is 107-141 ATS after a conference game since 1992.

Washington is 1-9 ATS on the road after outgaining the opponent by 175 or more yards in 2 straight games since 1992.

Texas is 35-20 ATS on the road after winning 3 of 4 since 1992.

Statistical leaders

Texas:
Passing: Quinn Ewers – 1,808 yards, 14 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: Bijan Robinson – 1,580 yards, 18 TD
Receiving: Xavier Worthy – 676 yards, 8 TD

Washington:
Passing: Michael Penix Jr. – 4,354 yards, 29 TD, 7 INT
Rushing: Wayne Taulapapa – 779 yards, 10 TD
Receiving: Rome Odunze – 1,088 yards, 7 TD

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Texas Longhorns - Washington Huskies prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily college football projections and previews.

Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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