Two of this season’s most intriguing teams meet in the Valero Alamo Bowl on December 29th, as the Washington Huskies will head down to take on the Texas Longhorns in their home state.

No one has any idea what to expect from these two squads — which means this bowl game is shaping up to be an instant classic.

Texas is currently a 3-point favorite, with the over/under set at 67.5. Texas is 8-4 ATS this season and 8-4 straight-up, with fully half of their games hitting the over.

Washington, on the other hand, is 10-2 on the season, but a mere 7-5 ATS. They’ve gone 8-3-1 against the over, though, which could come into play in this one.

Alamo Bowl Betting Odds

Spread: Texas – 3
Moneyline: Texas -155, Washington +135
O/U: 67.5

These two teams occasionally sniffed glory this season, but neither reached the heights that fans had hoped back in August.

However, a strong finish here could set either team up for a successful run in 2023, so expect fans of both sides to watch in droves.

Will Texas be able to cover the field goal spread, or do they have too much missing firepower to hang with the Huskies in this one? For expert picks and analysis, read on.

Alamo Bowl Info

Teams: #20 Texas Longhorns (Big 12 #3, 8-4) vs. #12 Washington Huskies (PAC-12 #2, 10-2)
Date: Thursday, December 29
Time: 9 p.m. EST
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Channel: ESPN
Odds: Washington +135, Texas -155

Alamo Bowl History

Despite the fact that the Alamo Bowl began in 1993, this bowl game is quickly beginning to seem every bit as historic and venerated as the Rose or Sugar Bowls.

By being played a few days before the new year, the Alamo Bowl has managed to carve out a unique position for itself while also garnering a ton of attention for what is usually an incredible matchup.

This is typically a matchup between PAC-12 and Big 12 teams, and this year is no exception. Texas will be making its sixth Alamo Bowl appearance, which ranks them #1 all-time, while Washington hasn’t been here since 2011.

That 2011 contest was a doozy, though, with Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III and his Baylor Bears outlasting the Huskies in a 67-56 barnburner. While that might be the most exciting Alamo Bowl of all time, it’s hardly the only noteworthy contest.

The 2016 Alamo Bowl was one of the craziest college football games ever. Pitting the TCU Horned Frogs against the Oregon Ducks, it had all the makings of a snoozer when Oregon took a 31-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. TCU stormed back to tie it in regulation, though, and once the dust had cleared on three overtimes, the Horned Frogs were the 47-41 victors.

Former TCU head coach Gary Patterson certainly remembers that bowl game — and it’s worth noting that he’ll be in burnt orange for this year’s contest, as he’s worked as an analyst for the Longhorns all season long.

Will his personal insight into this game give Texas an edge? The Longhorns may not need much of one, as this bowl (which is practically a home game for them) has historically been very kind to them.

They’ve won 4 out of 5 in San Antonio, the most recent being when Texas pounded Colorado 55-23 in what would prove to be coach Tom Herman’s last game on the Texas sideline.

Related: College Football Betting

Keys to the Washington vs Texas Alamo Bowl Game

One thing you can say about these two teams is that neither one likes to be predictable.

Texas was up and down all season, with incredibly impressive showings against the likes of Alabama, Oklahoma, and Big 12 champions Kansas State balanced out by duds against teams like Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.

Washington has been a bit more consistent, but a puzzling October loss to a bad Arizona State team kept them out of the PAC-12 Championship Game (and potentially cost them a playoff bid). Still, they’re on a six-game winning streak, so don’t count them out in this one.

Texas Will Win If:

Quinn Ewers (Finally) Lives Up to the Hype: Ewers was the most hyped Texas QB since Vince Young, and his initial commitment to Ohio State is what ultimately cost Tom Herman his job in Austin. Ewers came home after one year in Columbus, though, and has led the Longhorns on a roller coaster ride this season.

The good? A 49-0 demolition of Oklahoma, in which Ewers showed both the arm strength and touch that has had pro scouts salivating since his high school days.

The bad? A 38-27 win over Baylor in which Texas coach Steve Sarkisian seemingly lost all faith in his young QB, choosing to run the ball on the Longhorns’ final 22 plays rather than risk Ewers committing a costly turnover.

The catch here is that running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson — one a Doak Walker Award winner, the other the heart and soul of the team — have both declared for the draft and will sit this one out.

For better or for worse, this game rides on Ewers’s shoulders (especially since backup quarterback Hudson Card entered the transfer portal and left for Purdue) — and if he doesn’t fulfill his lofty expectations, this is one Alamo Bowl Texas fans likely won’t want to remember.

Jaylan Ford Plays with a Chip on His Shoulder: Often overshadowed by Texas’s other star linebacker, Demarvion Overshown, Ford came into his own this season, earning first-team Big 12 honors and a third-team All-American selection.

While it was undoubtedly a big year for Ford, it failed to impress Big 12 voters, who selected Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah as the conference’s player of the year, despite Ford outpacing the Wildcat in virtually every major statistical category.

Will this cause Ford to play with bad intentions? He’s also considering whether to go pro or return to school, so a big showing here could be worth far more than just payback.

Regardless, Texas will need Ford at his best in this one, as he’ll likely be the defended primarily tasked with containing the Michael Penix, Jr., the Huskies’ star QB.

Xavier Worthy Rediscovers His 2021 Form: Last year, true freshman WR Xavier Worthy looked like he’d completely rewrite the Texas record books, hauling in 62 passes for nearly 1,000 yards and 12 TDs, despite dealing with an unsettled QB position.

The Longhorn faithful expected even bigger things from Worthy in 2022 — after all, he’d had another year of development, and Ewers was supposed to be light years ahead of the players who’d manned the position in 2021.

Those lofty expectations have never fully materialized, though, as his numbers are down across the board. Most frustrating of all, Worthy and Ewers have failed to hook up on several deep balls this year in which the speedy wideout had a step or more on his competition.

Worthy is reportedly so frustrated with the situation that he’s considering transferring after the season. A big showing in the Alamo Bowl would do a lot more than boost Texas’s chances of taking home a trophy — it may also help them keep one of their best players in 2023.

>> Bet on Texas to win

Washington Will Win If:

The Michael Penix Experience Continues to Roll: Going 12-5 as a starter at a place like Indiana isn’t easy — but that’s exactly what Michael Penix, Jr., did before deciding to step his game up a notch and transfer to the Washington Huskies this past off-season.

At the time, Penix’s decision garnered much less attention than Ewers’ transfer did, but in retrospect, Penix might have been the more impactful of the two. That’s certainly been the case over the first season, as the dynamic QB has led his new team to a 10-2 record and the cusp of a PAC-12 crown.

Then again, “the cusp of a conference crown” and a trip to San Antonio is exactly what Ewers has brought Texas as well, so maybe these two aren’t as dissimilar as they first appear. And, like his Texas counterpart, Penix will need to get going early and often if his team hopes to come out of this bowl game with a victory.

Texas Can’t Replace Bijan: Texas Longhorns RB Bijan Robinson is already a Longhorn legend, and soon, he’ll almost certainly be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. He’s put the entire team on his back for the past three years.

His backup, Roschon Johnson, has been nothing less than one of the most dependable backs in program history as well.

Neither one will be available here though, and in their stead Texas will have to rely on a trio of unproven (but blue-chip) backs. If any of those youngsters can step up, Texas will have a real shot to win this one — but if Washington’s 35th-ranked run defense can bottle them up, it will put a ton of pressure on Ewers and his already-shaky confidence.

The Game Goes Well Above the Over: For all the hype about Bijan and Ewers this season, Texas’s defense has quietly been the strength of this team.

They’ll be without star pass rusher Demarvion Overshown in this one, though, and Vegas clearly doesn’t have faith in their ability to keep the Huskies’ offense grounded, which is why the over is a relatively high 67.5.

If the over comes in, that means that at least one (and probably both) team is racing up and down the sideline with ease. That’s likely bad news for Texas in a variety of ways, as having their D collapse would undermine the backbone of the squad and their young offense is unlikely to be able to toe-to-toe with an established star like Penix.

>> Bet on Washington to win

Best 2022 Alamo Bowl Bets & Odds

If you’re wanting to place a bet or two on the 2022 Alamo Bowl, these odds stood out to us at BetOnline:

Washington +3

This game seems like a true pick ‘em, as there are tons of questions on either side. In that case, three points is a lot to lay unless you bleed burnt orange.

The Huskies are definitely the hotter team, having won six in a row (including back-to-back games over ranked Oregon teams). Texas was up-and-down at the end of the season, capping their year with a pair of impressive wins — but victories in which Steve Sarkisian seemed to lose some faith in his young signal caller.

When in doubt, take the points.

Under 67.5

Again, the Texas Longhorns get more credit for being an offensive juggernaut than they truly deserve. Much of that is doubtless due to Sarkisian’s reputation as an X’s and O’s guru, but the fact is, this team has only gone over 67.5 points twice this season (and barely at that).

With a lot of firepower missing from the Longhorns (and a still-impressive Texas defense lurking on the other side), it’s hard to see how this one goes off the rails and becomes a shootout.

Texas to Score First: (-136)

It’s been a tale of two halves for the Longhorns during the regular season, as they’ve been one of the top teams in college football — in the first half. After halftime, though, Cinderella’s carriage turns back into a pumpkin, and this Longhorn team has lost several games after leading by multiple scores at the half.

Regardless of who ultimately comes out on top in this one, expect Texas to jump out to an early lead — and wager accordingly.

Best Bonus to Bet on Texas vs Washington

For anyone interested in betting on the 2022 Valero Alamo Bowl, BetOnline is currently running a deal where they’ll match 50% of your first deposit up to $1,000 using code BOL1000. This offer requires a minimum deposit of $55 and has a 10x wagering requirement.

In business for over 25 years, BetOnline is one of the most well-respected sportsbooks on the internet. They’re known for their excellent lines and fair business practices, as well as running a tight ship backed by cutting-edge digital encryption technology.

BetOnline is certainly not the only sportsbook taking action on the Alamo Bowl — but it’s one of the few we’d trust.

Related Betting Guides:

Where to Bet on the 2022 Alamo Bowl

If you’re looking to join thousands of other sports fans taking action on the 2022 Alamo Bowl, there are multiple football betting sites to choose from.

However, we generally urge bettors to stick with trusted names like BetOnline or Bovada. There are dozens of fly-by-night gambling sites out there that will take your money and run if given the opportunity, so it makes sense to stick with a site that’s been around for 20+ years.

Besides that, a site like BetOnline can offer you:

Great lines on just about any sport you can think of: while we’ve highlighted our favorite Alamo Bowl odds here, you can find lines on just about every sporting event under the sun at an online sportsbook. That means you can stay in the action all year long.
Flawless reputation: sites that have been around for decades like Bovada and BetOnline are every bit as reputable and trustworthy as your local casino — and a whole lot more convenient.
Exciting deposit bonuses: bigger sportsbooks try to lure new players with deposit bonuses, free bets, loyalty programs, and a whole lot more. You won’t find this kind of white-glove treatment at your local brick-and-mortar casino, that’s for sure.

Why Bet on the Alamo Bowl?

Placing a bet on a sporting event is a great way to take the excitement to the next level. Now you’re not just a passive participant — you actually have some skin in the game.

As a result, every play is heightened, and seeing a long shot come in can be truly exhilarating (and everyone loves a good bad beat story as well).

And it’s not just the excitement that makes online sports betting so popular, either. There’s also the fact that:

It’s easy: most modern sportsbooks have highly-responsive mobile platforms that make it easy to place a bet on your phone, regardless of where you happen to be at the time. That means that if you hear some breaking injury news while at the doctor’s office, you can jump on the odds before the rest of the betting public has a chance
It increases your fan IQ: you’d be surprised how much you miss when casually watching a game on TV. Not so when you’ve got a wager on it, though — you’ll learn things about your favorite team’s tendencies that will make you a more dedicated and passionate fan overnight
It takes seconds to learn and a lifetime to master: there are some casino games that are next-to-impossible to understand (hello, craps), while others (like slot machines) are so basic they’re mind-numbing. With sports betting, you can grasp the basics in seconds — but you’ll spend a lifetime learning how to get better

Guide to Alamo Bowl Betting

Who is Playing in the 2022 Alamo Bowl?

The 2022 Alamo Bowl will feature the #20 Texas Longhorns and the #12 Washington Huskies. Both of these teams are capable of making some explosive plays, so this one has all the makings of an instant classic.

Previously in college football & NFL:

Who is Favored to Win, Washington or Texas?

Currently, Texas is favored to win by 3 points. We feel this is largely due to a perceived home-field advantage, as the Longhorns have several key players who will be missing from the game whereas Washington will basically be at full strength.

Who Typically Plays in the Alamo Bowl?

The Alamo Bowl is typically a matchup between the top non-playoff Big 12 team and the top non-playoff PAC-12 team. While no PAC-12 teams made the playoffs this year, the Rose and Cotton Bowls snatched up Utah and USC, leaving the Washington Huskies to play in this one.

Where is the Alamo Bowl Played?

The Alamo Bowl is played in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It’s a short drive from the Texas Longhorns’ home stadium in Austin, so expect to witness a sea of burnt orange in the stands.

Ready to Bet on the 2022 Alamo Bowl?

While the Alamo Bowl doesn’t carry any playoff intrigue and won’t affect the national championship race, there’s a reason why it’s always one of the most popular college football bowl matchups: it tends to feature an incredibly exciting game.

This year’s contest is certainly no exception, as there’s no telling what we can expect from the Washington Huskies and Texas Longhorns.

It wouldn’t surprise us to see this one go to multiple overtimes and set scoring records — and we wouldn’t be shocked if it ends up a defensive struggle right up until the final whistle.

That certainly makes it harder to wager on the game with confidence, and whenever we’re uncertain, we take the points. Washington (+3) seems like the play here, and if you’re looking for a hunch, we’d drop a few dollars on the under as well.

So, make sure to check out the latest Washington vs Texas odds and take your picks. Regardless of how you bet, though, be sure to tune in — there’s going to be a good one in San Antonio Thursday night.

Suggested Reading: UK football in-play betting

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