Washington vs Texas Early Odds & Preview: Longhorns in Sweet Spot for Sugar Showdown

In the 2001 Holiday Bowl, Washington and Texas engaged in perhaps one of the wildest bowl games in recent college football history. It will take a lot for this year's Huskies and Longhorns to match that classic contest, but we could be in for an epic counter when the two teams meet in the Sugar Bowl, the second of this season's College Football Playoff semifinal matchups.

With how things shook out in the conference championship games, Washington, who defeated Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday, moved up to #2 in the final CFP rankings behind Michigan. That sets up a New Year's Day matchup with Texas, who jumped from seventh to third after their dominant win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Bet on College Football Playoff Odds at BetDSI

Last season, these two teams met in the Alamo Bowl, with the Huskies defeating the favored Longhorns 27-20 behind 287 yards and two touchdown passes by Michael Penix Jr.

Penix has been a leading Heisman Trophy contender throughout this season in leading Washington to a 13-0 record, the program's first Pac-12 title since 2018, and the Pac-12's first CFP appearance since the Huskies reached the semis in the 2016 season.

But can he lead the Huskies to their first national championship since their shared title with Miami in 1991? First, they will have to get by Texas, who has won seven straight games since a four-point Red River Rivalry loss to Oklahoma in October.

While the two teams met just last season, this will be a real full-circle moment for Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian.

Sarkisian was head coach at Washington for five seasons before leaving for USC, where personal demons led to his firing in 2015. Sarkisian has since rebuilt his personal life, his coaching reputation, and now the Longhorns, and in just his third season in Austin, the program is two wins from its first national title since 2005.

Next season, these programs will be in different conferences, as the Huskies are headed to the Big Ten and the Longhorns to the SEC. Which will end their current conference affiliation with a CFP Championship Game appearance? Washington is the undefeated team, but Texas is favored as per early Sugar Bowl odds.

Washington vs Texas Odds

Odds are courtesy of Bovada.

Spread

• Washington +4 (-110)
• Texas -4 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 64 (-110)
• Under 64 (-110)

Moneyline

• Washington +155
• Texas -180

Washington vs Texas All-Time Head-to-Head History

• 12/29/2022 (2022 Alamo Bowl): 27-20 Huskies
• 12/28/2021 (2001 Holiday Bowl): 47-43 Longhorns
• 12/22/1979 (1979 Sun Bowl): 14-7 Huskies
• 9/20/1975 (Seattle): 28-10 Longhorns
• 10/5/1974 (Austin): 35-21 Longhorns

Top Players for Washington

Washington Offense

• QB Michael Penix Jr.: 307 of 466 (65.9%), 4218 yards, 33 TD, 9 INT passing; 3 rushing TD
• RB Dillon Johnson: 201 carries, 1113 yards (5.5 YPA), 14 TD rushing; 19 catches, 148 yards
• WR Rome Odunze: 81 catches, 1428 yards (17.6 YPC), 13 TD

Washington Defense

• LB Edefuan Ulofoshio: 83 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, INT, TD
• CB Jabbar Muhammad: 42 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 12 pass breakups
• EDGE Bralen Trice: 41 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 5 sacks

Penix is the headliner for Washington, but Johnson, a transfer from Mississippi State, has been a valuable addition. He ran for 256 yards and four touchdowns against USC earlier this season, and he hit the century mark in both games against Oregon, including 152 yards and two scores in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

Washington has given up 30+ points five times this season, but in close wins over Utah, Oregon State, and Washington State down the stretch, they made stops on the final drive in each game.

Top Players for Texas

Texas Offense

• QB Quinn Ewers: 248 of 351 (70.7%), 3161 yards, 21 TD, 6 INT passing; 5 rushing TD
• WR: Xavier Worthy: 73 catches, 969 yards (13.3 YPC), 5 receiving TD; 4 attempts, 35 yards rushing (8.8 YPA); 21 punt returns, 358 yards (17.0 YPR), TD
• TE Ja'Tavion Sanders: 39 catches, 607 yards (15.6 YPC), 2 TD

Texas Defense

• LB Jaylan Ford: 91 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 2 INT
• DT T'Vondre Sweat: 42 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, 4 pass breakups
• DT Byron Murphy II: 26 tackles, 8 TFL, 5 sacks

It hasn't been a perfect year for Ewers, who has missed two games due to injury and threw two crucial interceptions in the Red River Rivalry loss to Oklahoma.

But he has shown his mettle and his skills in two of the Longhorns' biggest wins of the season, torching Alabama in Tuscaloosa and lighting up Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Texas has also bent and broken on defense on a number of occasions, but they have some serious playmakers on that side of the ball, led by Sweat, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. In the Big 12 title game, the Longhorns held Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon III to just 34 yards on 13 carries.

Where to Bet on College Football

Most top online sportsbooks offer a wide variety of college football odds throughout the season, including on the two CFP semifinal matchups between Michigan and Alabama and Washington and Texas.

In addition to being able to make weekly college football picks all the way from Week Zero to the College Football Playoff National Championship, you can also bet on Heisman Trophy odds, conference championship odds, win totals, and much more.

There are plenty of sports betting sites you can choose from that are good for college football betting. Below are some of the books that we highly recommend:

• BetDSI
• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bookmaker
• MyBookie
• Sportsbetting.ag

If you don't have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.

Other College Football Content

• Michigan vs Alabama Early Odds & Preview (CFP Semifinal #1 – 2024 Rose Bowl)
• College Football Betting Guide
• College Football Picks for This Week
• This Week's College Football Odds
• Weekly College Football Predictions, Best Bets & Analysis