NCAAF Picks: Rich Rodriguez seems to be a home as head coach of the Arizona Wildcats but must guide them down the stretch run with success to avoid a repeat of his reputation at Michigan where his teams would start strong only to implode at the end. The lack of a dominant defense has Wildcats fans and handicappers concerned as it has been a drag on Arizona’s betting value. The Washington Huskies have proven to not be ready for prime time and have the metrics of a program in decline.
The Arizona Wildcats will host the Washington Huskies at Arizona Stadium on Saturday with coverage on FOX starting at 3:30 PM ET. Arizona opened as an 8.5-point favorite.
Dog Days for UW
Washington is 6-4 straight up, 4-6 against the spread, and 4-6 under the total. The Huskies were routed at home last week in a 44-30 loss to UCLA. UW ranks 98th in the nation for total offense and 79th for total defense. Washington has lost three of their last four games both SU and ATS as the Pac 12 schedule has proven to be too much for their thin roster.
Wildcat Strike
Arizona is 7-2 SU, but 3-6 ATS, with a 3-6 mark under the total. The Wildcats are coming off a 38-20 home win over Colorado but failed to get the money as 18.5 point chalks. Arizona ranks 13th in the nation for total offense but 98th for total defense. Freshman QB Anu Solomon has been sensational with a 25-5 TD-INT ratio. The Wildcats are in the thick of the Pac 12 South Division race.
Our Pick
Washington has been an above board road value as of late with eight payouts in their last 14 away match-ups with eight out of their last 12 away games going over the total.
Despite their recent straight up success Arizona has not seen that translate into profits on the board at home. The Wildcats have paid out in just five out of their last 14 home tilts with eight out of their last 11 home games going under the total.
Washington has come away with the money in three out of their last five games against Arizona with six out of the last seven meetings between the Wildcats and Huskies going over the total. At Arizona Stadium things have been decidedly different however as Arizona has come away with the cash in their last three home games against UW with each of those three games going over the total.
We’ll call for Arizona based on home head to head and over the total.
