Boise State vs. Washington LA Bowl Prediction and Game Preview

Story by

Steven Lassan

Sat, Dec 13, 2025 ·

5 min read

College football’s bowl season for 2025-26 kicks off today with Boise State and Washington meeting in the Bucked Up LA Bowl. Despite being the first matchup on a bowl slate that includes 41 games, this contest could be one of the better postseason games this year.

This game marks a quick turnaround for Boise State. The Broncos knocked off UNLV last Friday to win the Mountain West for the third year in a row. Under coach Spencer Danielson, Boise State is 24-7 over its last 31 games. However, the path to a conference title wasn’t easy in ‘25. The Broncos lost 34-7 to South Florida in the opener and later suffered a 28-7 defeat at Notre Dame . Starting quarterback Maddux Madsen suffered a lower leg injury in a 30-7 loss to Fresno State on Nov. 1, which also hindered the Broncos in a 17-7 defeat to San Diego State on Nov 15. But after wins against Colorado State and Utah State, Madsen was able to return for the Mountain West title game, guiding Boise State to a 38-21 victory.

The Los Angeles Bowl marks an opportunity for Washington to cap a successful second season under coach Jedd Fisch. In a rebuilding year in ‘24, the Huskies went 6-7. But the program took a significant step forward this season by finishing 8-4, with three of the team’s defeats coming to ranked opponents - Ohio State , Oregon , and Michigan .

Washington holds a 4-2 all-time series lead over Boise State. The Huskies have won the last two meetings, including a 38-7 victory in the ‘19 Las Vegas Bowl. Washington is 3-1 in its last four bowl trips, while the Broncos are 1-3 in the postseason in that span.

Bucked Up LA Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington Odds, Details

Location:SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif.
Kickoff:Saturday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. ET
TV:ABC
Spread:Washington -9.5
Over/Under:52.5
Announcers:Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor

Boise State vs. Washington: Keys to Victory

© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images — © Mark J&period; Rebilas-Imagn Images
(© Mark J&period; Rebilas-Imagn Images)

Why Boise State Will Win

The return of Madsen gives Boise State much-needed balance on offense. Behind running backs Dylan Riley (1,091 yards), Sire Gaines (795), and Malik Sherrod (406), Danielson’s team averages 188.4 yards a contest on the ground. That trio has a tough matchup ahead, however. Washington ranks No. 20 nationally in success rate against the run and fourth in the Big Ten . Also, standout left tackle Kage Casey opted out of Saturday's matchup to prepare for the NFL Draft, leaving a void in the trenches for Danielson.

Madsen doesn’t put up huge passing numbers each week (228.3 yards per game), but his experience and efficiency (59.1 percent completion rate) help this offense stay on schedule. Latrell Caples (46 catches) is the go-to target, but Matt Lauter (32), Chase Penry (27), and Chris Marshall (25) will factor heavily on Saturday night. Washington was also stingy through the air in the regular season. Just one opponent topped 300 passing yards against this unit, and the Huskies allowed only five completions of 40-plus yards.

Against a dynamic quarterback in Demond Williams, Boise State’s defense will be under pressure from the first snap. However, this unit has experience against dual-threat quarterbacks after facing UNLV’s Anthony Colandrea twice this season and finishing No. 28 nationally in defensive success rate. The Broncos were vulnerable against the run at times (164 yards a game allowed) but ranked second in the Mountain West in pass efficiency defense.

Why Washington Will Win

Washington brings one of the nation’s top offenses to SoFi Stadium on Saturday night. Led by one of the Big Ten’s most-talented trios in quarterback Demond Williams, running back Jonah Coleman , and receiver Denzel Boston , Fisch’s group ranks No. 6 nationally in offensive success rate and averages 33.8 points a contest.

Williams was projected to be among the top breakout quarterbacks in ‘25 and certainly lived up to the hype in his first full season as the team’s starter. Over 12 starts, Williams threw for 2,850 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for 595 yards and six scores. The sophomore paced an attack that averaged 6.4 yards per play and ranked fourth in the Big Ten in third-down conversions.

Even though Boise State ranks 28th nationally in defensive success rate, stopping Williams and his dual-threat ability is a tough ask for this group. In addition to containing Williams, a vulnerable Broncos’ defense against the run has to find a way to slow down Coleman (673 yards), Adam Mohammed (517), and Jordan Washington (208) out of the backfield.

And if going up against Washington’s high-powered attack wasn’t enough, Boise State’s offense will have its hands full against Fisch’s defense. The Huskies took a step forward on this side of the ball under first-year coordinator Ryan Walters. This unit thrives at stopping the run, which is the biggest strength of the Broncos’ attack.

Final Score Prediction: Washington 34, Boise State 24

Having Madsen in the lineup makes a big difference for Boise State. However, Washington simply has too much firepower for the Broncos’ defense. Expect Williams to close out the year on a high note, as the Huskies win and build momentum for what could be an intriguing ‘26 campaign.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.