Washington vs Nebraska Line 2011 College Football Picks Week 3: The 10th ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers looked like an overrated college football team last Saturday when playing a home game versus Fresno State of the (non-BCS) Western Athletic Conference. Not only did the Huskers look overrated, odds makers had them over lined too, giving -28 points as favorites. What on earth were they thinking? The Huskers managed to pull out a 42-29 victory, but the game was much closer than the 12 point margin indicated. For Week-3 of the 2011 College Football Odds season, Nebraska will host the Washington Huskies, their third consecutive home game against a team that isn't very good. College Football Odds makers at BetOnline.com have installed the Huskers as 17 1/2-chalk favorites. On the season, Nebraska (2-0 SU) has been a lousy cover team going 0-2 ATS against questionable opposition.
Washington will bring a 2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS record to Lincoln following a 40-32 victory over Hawaii, covering ATS as a 4 1/2-point favorite last Saturday afternoon in Seattle. The Huskers got a scare in Week-1 from Eastern Washington, a FCS level school of the Big Sky Conference, but survived winning the game by three points 30-27.
The two schools should be familiar with each other, considering they played twice in 2010, ending the season with a 19-7 Washington victory in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl. Washington's win avenged its embarrassing 56-21 loss to Nebraska in Seattle earlier in Week-3 (Sept. 18) that year. Odds makers had lined Nebraska 14-chalk favorites over the Huskies with a 52 1/2 total. Huskies backers who wagered for a SU win enjoyed a profitable day as +425 money line underdogs.
With Jake Locker gone to the NFL; third-year Washington Coach Steve Sarkisian has given the starting QB duties to Sophomore Keith Price. Against Hawaii fans got to see their gunslinger deliver too, passing for 315 yards and four touchdowns. Price has some offensive help too with Chris Polk, one of the better running backs in the Pac-12.
Nebraska will bring a powerful ground game led by Sophomore Quarterback Taylor Martinez. The Huskies defense should know what to expect from the fleet footed sophomore, who has run for 301 yards and scored five touchdowns in two games against the Huskies.
Both Washington and Nebraska have played down to their competition in the early going of 2011. It will be interesting to see what adjustments both squads make for this game. I believe the result will be closer than what College Football Odds makers predict: I'm picking Washington to cover as a +17 1/2 road dog but Nebraska will get a SU win. My 2011 College Football Picks on the Washington vs Nebraska Line: Huskies +17 1/2.
