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...
WSU Offense Suddenly Has A Boise State Problem Fans Will Watch
Washington States offense is heading into the Boise State game with a couple of important injury questions hanging over it. Coach Kirby Moore said left tackle Ashton Tripp is day-to-day with an ankle injury, while wide receiver Darrius Clemons is also managing an ankle issue. Moore added that defensive ends Malachi Wrice and Michael Hughes are expected to be full-go this weekend, and he also addressed a separate talking point by saying NIL earnings do not factor into playing-time decisions.
The timing matters because both Tripp and Clemons fill spots that can shape how comfortable the Cougars feel on offense, especially against a Boise State opponent that will pressure any weakness it sees. Washington State has not had much room for error as it tries to settle things up front and keep its passing game on schedule, so the status of those two players is one to watch as kickoff gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Faces A New Road Problem At Washington State
Boise States trip to Pullman comes with a little more uncertainty than a typical road game, thanks to Washington States latest change under center. The Cougars have turned to redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman after moving on from Caden Pinnick, and the timing adds a fresh wrinkle to a matchup that already had plenty of numbers to sort through on both sides of the ball heading into Saturday.
For Boise State, the challenge is not just facing a new quarterback, but trying to do it on the road against a Washington State team still settling into its revised offensive identity. The statistical comparison of the two teams key players suggests there are matchups worth watching all over the field, and Eshelmans first extended look gives the Cougars at least one variable the Broncos could not have fully planned around. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Moore Faces A Personal Test As Cougars Meet Boise State
Kirby Moore has already spent enough time around Boise State to understand why this matchup feels different. The first-year Washington State head coach is preparing to face the school where he once played receiver, and it comes with the extra layer that he knows the program from both sides of the line. He has coached against the Broncos before, but this one lands closer to home, with a familiar opponent and a familiar coach in Spencer Danielson on the other sideline.
Moore has pointed to Boise States balance as the challenge, praising an offense that can control games and a defense that has been just as sturdy. For Washington State, the meeting is as much about handling a well-rounded opponent as it is about the personal backdrop for its new coach. It also leaves a meaningful thread hanging: how Moores ties to Boise State will shape the tone of the game once the ball is actually kicked off. [Read more 🡒]