Washington Huskies vs. Arizona Wildcats Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

2 minute read

Oct. 22, 2021

Eytan Shander
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

There aren’t many positives to focus on with Washington this year, and even fewer with Arizona. Rivalry aside, there’s still some decent value on the board. The two teams collide at 10:30 p.m. ET on Friday night on ESPN2 at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona.

Score Prediction

Washington 24, Arizona 14

Best Bet

Under

Arizona +18

Washington Huskies vs. Arizona Wildcats Predictions

It’s important to hold proper perspective when looking at what’s gone wrong for Washington as it’s still not as bad as Arizona. The Huskies have struggled in every area outside of defending the pass, coming off a two-game losing streak where that was once again evident.

Washington only won two games this year but bears a heavy burden of laying 18 points on the spread. They did beat Arkansas State 52-3, but other than that haven’t covered anything double digits. It would take a miracle for Washington to hand the Wildcats their first win in over two years, but Washington also isn’t good enough to cover that line.

The Wildcats are good – actually good – in the one area where Washington can succeed: defending the pass. Arizona is 42nd in the nation in stopping the pass and will need to apply a ton of pressure on UW QB Dylan Morris.

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Washington Huskies vs. Arizona Wildcats Betting Odds

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Washington is a huge 18-point road favorite against Arizona on Friday night. Washington is just 1-5 ATS while Arizona is 2-4 ATS despite being winless on the year.

The total for this game is 46.5 points. The under is 9-3 combined for both teams.

Washington Huskies vs. Arizona Wildcats Betting Resources

Matchup: Pac-12
Date: Friday, October 22, 2021
Venue: Arizona Stadium
Location: Tucson, Arizona
TV-Time: ESPN2 - 10:30 p.m. ET

Washington Huskies Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 2-4
ATS: 1-5
O/U: 1-5
ATS - Home: 1-3
ATS - Away: 0-2

He’s averaging 241 yards in the air with a split TD:INT ratio of 8:8. Terrell Bynum’s big play ability leads three Huskies WRs who can produce, accounting for five of the eight passing TDs. The rushing duties are split but it’s Sean McGrew who’s done all the scoring, accounting for six rushing TDs this year.

Their defense has been victimized multiple times, but they’ve kept the last two losses respectable. Expect their opponent to do that this time around.

Arizona Wildcats Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 0-6
ATS: 2-4
O/U: 2-4
ATS - Home: 1-3
ATS - Away: 1-1

The positive for Arizona is their pass defense should be as good – if not better – than Washington’s pass offense. The problem arises when you look at every other matchup.

The Wildcats are led by a trio of QBs on the stats page, but due to circumstance and injury may be down to one, as Gunner Cruz and Jordan McCloud look done for the year. That leaves Will Plummer and his 380 total yards passing as the lone QB for Arizona.

They may have to use a WR as a backup QB at this point. Nothing should surprise you with a team that’s been winless since 2019. Drake Anderson is the team’s leading RB with only 239 yards on 63 attempts.

The passing game isn’t much better, featuring just one WR – Boobie Curry – with more than one receiving TD. Unless the Wildcats pass-D causes multiple turnovers, they won’t have a shot.

The Arizona Wildcats have lost four straight games when facing the Washington Huskies. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Washington Huskies

Record: 2-4
VI Ranking: 72
Points Scored: 141
Points Allowed: 122
PS/G: 23.5 (100th)
PA/G: 20.3 (38th)

Inside the Stats - Arizona Wildcats

Record: 0-6
VI Ranking: 126
Points Scored: 84
Points Allowed: 192
PS/G: 14 (129th)
PA/G: 32 (105th)

Key Players to Watch

WASH: Dylan Morris - QB (126/210, 1,446 yards, 8 TD, 8 INT)
WASH: Sean McGraw - RB (56 carries, 226 yards, 6 TD)
ZONA: Stanley Berryhill III - WR (48 catches, 445 yards, TD)
ZONA: Kenny Hebert - LB (16 tackles, sack, INT, FF)

Injuries

ZONA: Josh McCauley - OL (Undisclosed-Questionable)
ZONA: Drake Anderson - RB (Undisclosed-Questionable)
ZONA: Kyon Barrs - DT (Undisclosed-Questionable)
ZONA: Josh Donovan - OL (Undisclosed-Questionable)
ZONA: Gunner Cruz - QB (Thumb-Out)
ZONA: Jordan McCloud - QB (Knee-Out)
WASH: Terrell Bynum - WR (Undiscloed-Out)
WASH: Rome Odunze - WR (Undisclosed-Out)
WASH: Ja'Lynn Polk - WR (Chest-Out)
WASH: Daniel Heimuli - LB (Knee-Questionable)
WASH: Zion Tupuola-Fetui - LB (Achilles-Questionable)
WASH: Dominique Hampton - DB (Undisclosed-Questionable)

Washington Huskies vs. Arizona Wildcats Betting Conclusion

Despite Washington living through a season of disappointment, it’s still not as bad as the Wildcats. With that said, don’t expect Arizona to get blown out of the water, even with their QB situation in emergency mode.

The biggest factor here is how well the Wildcats defend the pass. Washington will get up and win this game, but not by more than 18 points. Laying that many points on a 2-4 team is just a difficult ask. This isn’t Arkansas State, although at times it may feel that way.