Top sportsbooks online favor the Auburn Tigers by three points against the Washington Huskies in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. That’s still a few weeks away. However, Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn is not about to procrastinate. In fact, he expects to name offensive line starters following the Tigers’ first fall scrimmage. “We’re hoping that we can do it sooner rather than later,” Malzahn said. “Our goal is by the end of the first scrimmage, but I can’t guarantee that will happen. That’s what we’ve told our players.” Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. and Marquel Harrell are locks at left tackle and left guard respectively. That’s two positions. Out of five. Which O-line coach JB Grimes – or Grimey, as he likes to be called – had hoped to fill between the middle and end of fall camp. Center, right guard, and right tackle are question marks at this point.
Betting Washington
Their first time wearing pads is a milestone for football players and young girls alike. The Huskies first wore pads on Day 3 of Fall Camp. In the final team drive of the day, redshirt freshman Jake Haener led the offense to a practice-ending TD by way of a Sean McGrew run. The defense came away with a moral victory, however, producing five interceptions. And speaking of five, this will be Chris Petersen’s fifth season as UW head coach. And it should be a make-or-break year, given how high the stakes are. And not just the stakes at the top sportsbooks online, either. The Huskies were given their highest Coaches’ Poll preseason ranking since 1997 (No. 6). Also they were named the nation’s fifth-best team according to ESPN’s power rankings. Moreover, the West Coast media voted Washington favorite to win the Pac-12 title at the Pac-12 day.
Starting QB Jake Browning lost his favorite target, Dante Pettis, to the NFL draft. On the plus side, running back extraordinaire Myles Gaskin leads the ground attack. Finally, UW’s defensive backs are among the best in the country.
Betting Auburn
The Huskies are not the only ones striving for a breakthrough. If the CFP included five teams instead of four, Auburn so would have made it. Or, mind you, if the SEC Championship Game had five quarters instead of, you know, four. “We were one quarter away,” quarterback Jarrett Stidham said. “That’s just the way it was. I think the team’s just bought in a little bit more. Our motto this year is, ‘ring the bell,’ and to most people that doesn’t make any sense…. That’s your personal best, and you continue to work toward your personal best. That’s kind of how our motto is, and that’s the approach to this season.” He’s absolutely right about one thing. It doesn’t make any sense at all.
The Tigers lost, SU and ATS, their final two games of last season in the same stadium where they will open this one. In addition to the SEC Championship game against Georgia, they lost the Peach Bowl to UCF. We’ll see if the third time’s the charm at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Washington Huskies vs. Auburn Tigers Sportsbook Odds and Info
- Date: September 1, 2018
- Time: 2:30 pm
- Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA
- Best online sportsbooks odds from BetOnline.ag:
- Washington +3 -110
- Auburn -3 -110
Betting trends
- The Huskies are 4-2 SU in their last six games.
- The Huskies are 3-3 ATS in their last six games.
- The total has gone over in the Huskies’ last four games.
- The Tigers are 5-2 SU in their last seven games.
- The Tigers are 2-3 ATS in their last five games.
- The total has gone under in the Tigers’ last four games.
