Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Odds and Picks – Prediction for Washington State vs Fresno State

• Washington State takes on Fresno State on Saturday afternoon, December 17th, in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl
• The Bulldogs are currently 3-point betting favorites against the Cougars in the CFB odds
• Read below for Washington State vs Fresno State odds, spread and predictions for the LA Bowl

The college football bowl season starts this weekend and Fresno State takes on Washington State in a game on Saturday, December 17. Kickoff is set for just after 3:30 PM ET at SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California), and the game will be live on ABC. Now, Fresno State plays in a bowl that maybe most did not expect…

Fresno State is currently a 3-point betting favorite and the total is set at 53.5 for this contest. The Cougars are slight “neutral-site” underdogs.

Let’s dive into the Washington State vs Fresno State odds and offer you our best bets and predictions.

Washington State vs Fresno State Odds

Odds as of  December 14th at BetMGM Sportsbook. Get the BetMGM promo code for CFB bowl betting.

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Fresno State is -165 on the moneyline in the college football odds, giving them 62.3% implied probability to win.

Fresno State Continues To Shut Up The Doubters

Now, Head Coach Jeff Tedford saw his Bulldogs look great in conference play. Tedford gave Fresno State fans an incredible present of sorts with a 28-16 win against Boise State in the MWC Championship game. The Bulldogs broke open a close game in the fourth quarter as they scored two touchdowns. Boise State saw its hopes fade away just like that.

Yes, Jake Haener, the Fresno State quarterback tossed one touchdown pass as the Bulldogs’ running game accounted for only 61 yards, but delivered two critical touchdowns. It was their ability to play mistake-free football that led them to victory. Their offensive performance was far from pretty, but effective.

Pure football craft geekery here, but loving this play fake by #FresnoState QB Jake Heaner #NFLDraft

Details matter. #GoDeepRSP pic.twitter.com/bkPRo23ks2

— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) December 13, 2022

Yes, Fresno State possesses a deep wide receiving corps. Boise State held them in check but the feeling is that Washington State may not be able to do so.

The key for the Bulldogs is balance. Jake Haener tossed 18 touchdowns in nine games compared to just three interceptions. Add in a couple of running touchdowns and fewer miscues, Haener gives Fresno State a great chance to win on Saturday.

Fresno State’s defense made the plays they needed to even though they allowed 321 yards. They won the turnover battle and forced two interceptions. Even the special teams got into the act with a punt return touchdown.

Washington State Had Up-And-Down Regular Season

Head coach Jake Dickert knew this schedule would not be easy. The Cougars were a bit hot and cold in 2022. They won three straight games twice and at one point lost three consecutive contests. It was that second winning streak that made them bowl eligible. In the Apple Cup, the Cougars endured a tough 51-33 loss to rival Washington.

Yes, Washington State comes in with offensive threats like Cameron Ward (28 combined touchdowns) and Nakia Watson (12 combined touchdowns). However, against top-25 competition, the defense and even the offense seems to come up a bit short (1-4 overall).

There were two @UW_Football defenses that played in their 51-33 #AppleCup triumph, and UW Co-DC @CoachMorrell3 explained how they went from giving up 27 first-half points to locking Cameron Ward and WSU down the last 30 minutes. (VIP) @Dawgman247 https://t.co/cnb83oIb9i

— *Chris Fetters (@Chris_Fetters) November 29, 2022

Can Washington State slow down the Fresno State offense much like Boise State did? The Cougars got into a shootout with the Huskies but then their offense fizzled in the second half while their defense sputtered as well. If Fresno State slows down the Watson-Ward duo, that means lots of trouble.

The key still is simple. In order for Washington State to stop a 10-win Fresno State season, the Cougars must play better on both sides of the ball.

Washington State’s win total odds stood at +125 for 5.5 wins. They, like Fresno State, exceeded season expectations.

Washington State vs Fresno State Prediction

Most experts believe Fresno State possesses the tools to defeat Washington State. The question is can the Bulldogs finish this season on a winning note?

Given that Fresno State is on quite a hot run, the reality is that their spread is still relatively low.

Fresno State laying 3 points seems about right according to metrics. That being said, Weather expects not to be an issue on Saturday afternoon. With bright sunshine, the offenses should be able to take to the air.

Picks: Fresno State -3 (-110), Over 53.5 points (-110)