No. 21 Boise State heads into the back half of its regular season with the betting market still giving the Broncos plenty of respect for Saturday’s road trip to Washington State.
Boise State opened as a 13.5-point favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook, and by Sunday afternoon that number had slid to 12.5. The Broncos are -600 on the moneyline, while the Cougars sit at +430. The over/under is 50.5 points.
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Mountain time, with the Pac-12 matchup airing nationally on USA Network.
The Broncos enter at 5-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play after rolling through five straight wins before their bye week. Their last outing was a 38-31 road win over rival Fresno State, a game in which Boise State ran wild for 274 yards. Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines both went over 100 yards on the ground.
Washington State, meanwhile, is coming off a quarterback switch ahead of its road game at Oregon State. The Cougars fell 48-30, but the new-look offense produced its best showing against an FBS opponent this season.
Redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman made his first career start and went 32 of 49 for 289 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also carried the ball 15 times for 136 yards and a score, leading the Cougars’ rushing attack as well. Eshelman replaced Caden Pinnick, who had thrown three total touchdowns in six starts.
With Pinnick under center, Washington State managed only four total offensive touchdowns against five FBS opponents. Against Oregon State, Eshelman guided the Cougars on three touchdown drives at Reser Stadium.
“We just had much better rhythm,” Washington State head coach Kirby Moore said after the game.
The records against the spread point to a solid Boise State track record and a strong Washington State mark against the number. The Broncos are 3-3 ATS, while the Cougars are 5-2.
Saturday also features four other Pac-12 teams in action. FanDuel lists San Diego State as a three-point road favorite at Colorado State, and Texas State is favored by 11.5 points at home against Utah State.
In Other News...
Boise State Suddenly Has A New Pac-12 Team To Worry About
Through seven weeks of Pac-12 play, Boise State has been right where it expected to be near the top of the league picture, but the path to a title race just got a little more crowded. Oregon State stayed in striking distance with a convincing win over Washington State, while Texas State also got its first Pac-12 victory of the season by rolling past Colorado State in a game that featured a big all-around day from Torrance Burgess Jr.
Oregon States offense has become impossible to ignore, and the Beavers have now put themselves firmly into the same conversation as Boise State. Against Washington State, AJ Newberry and freshman Jesse Legree supplied the kind of explosive plays that can change a standings race in a hurry, giving Oregon State a result that tightens the margin at the top and adds another contender for Boise State to keep an eye on as the season moves deeper into conference play. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Just Got A Ranking Boost At The Right Time
A week off can do more than rest a roster, and Boise State got a timely reminder of that in the Week 6 Coaches Poll. After stacking up five straight victories, the Broncos continued their climb in the national conversation, landing in a stronger position as they turn toward Washington State and the next chance to prove they belong in the mix.
The broader poll picture helped frame the rise, too, with several top 25 teams taking losses and shaking up the ladder around Boise State. Oregon held at No. 25 after beating Nebraska, while other teams lingered among those receiving votes, leaving the Broncos with a little more room to keep building as the season moves deeper into October. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Just Got A New National Respect Boost Without Playing
Without taking the field, Boise State picked up another bit of national validation in the Week 7 AP Top 25, climbing two spots to No. 21. The Broncos collected 295 points and moved past Missouri and Oklahoma State after both teams lost over the weekend, a quiet but meaningful bump in a race where every jump in the rankings can carry real weight in the weeks ahead.
Boise State also stayed atop the Group of Six hierarchy, with James Madison the closest challenger in that conversation. The Broncos moved up to No. 22 in the USA Today Coaches Poll as well, giving them a little more room in the national picture even as the season keeps tightening around them. [Read more 🡒]