Sugar Bowl Preview: Odds and Props for Texas vs Washington

The matchup of Texas and Washington in a bowl game will occur for the second straight season, and the pre-game odds are almost a mirror image. The Longhorns and Huskies met in the 2022 Alamo Bowl, where Michael Penix Jr. and company represented the Pac-12 well and upset the favored ‘Horns 27-20 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. In their rematch, the winner of the Allstate Sugar Bowl will be ushered into a CFP Championship matchup against the team that emerges victorious between #1 Michigan and #4 Alabama.

Texas is favored again, this time by four points compared to 3.5 in 2022, and the point total is slightly lower at 63.5 after these opponents finished well under the number of 66 a year ago.
Washington wrapped up one of four undefeated seasons in the country with their second triumph over Oregon in the Pac-12 title game and are listed as the last of the four playoff teams according to the futures markets.

With Michigan, Texas, and Alabama all carrying odds shorter than +300, the Huskies are the outliers, sitting at +700 at the best available outlets. Penix finished behind LSU’s Jayden Daniels for second place in the Heisman voting and will look to cap off his college career with a pair of CFP victories and the program’s first championship since 1991.

Texas, one of the winningest programs in the sport, appears on the verge of finally being able to declare themselves ‘back’ after years of trying to reclaim the former glory of a program that struggled to find its footing following Mack Brown’s departure. Steve Sarkisian has built a formidable front on both sides of the ball and has a road win in Tuscaloosa on his resume this season.

We’ve outlined what’s at stake and who’s vying for this semifinal victory. Let’s add some player props to the mix to spice up this matchup; Our best bets for the 2023 Sugar Bowl are handicapped next.

Quinn Ewers OVER 0.5 Interceptions (-141 at BetRivers)

• Ewers, who did not throw an interception in the first four games of the year, has had a pass picked off in five of seven since then.
• As Ewers’ passing volume increased, naturally so did his interceptions. The QB averaged 28 attempts per game in the first month and increased that to 34.1 per contest in that seven-game stretch to end the season.
• Washington’s defense ranks 16th in the country with 1.2 interceptions per game in 2023.

Jalen McMillan OVER 71.5 Receiving Yards (-114 at BetRivers)

• McMillan hurt his knee in a September meeting with Michigan State and only appeared in five games this season.
• In those five games, the redshirt junior eclipsed this number four times and averaged 93.6 yards per contest.
• McMillan has caught eight or more passes in three of five appearances.
• Texas’ defensive strength is their D-line. They allow 240.8 yards per game through the air, 94th-best in the country. McMillan should have his chances to take advantage.

Washington to Score First (+114 at DraftKings)

• The Huskies struck first on the scoreboard in 10 of their 13 games this season.
• Texas split their final four games in terms of teams to score first.
• With the Longhorns favored by 0.5 in the first quarter, we like the chance to snag plus money on Washington in this spot.