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Oregon State vs. Boise State odds, predictions, best bets: Top plays for Pac-12 showdown
Boise State can secure a place in the Pac-12 Championship with a win over Oregon State, while moving closer to a College Football Playoff berth. The Broncos have won eight straight since losing narrowly to Oregon, but the article’s betting analysis backs Oregon State to keep the contest within the spread.
Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson, the nation’s leading passer, is out injured, and Boise State’s Maddux Madsen is also uncertain after missing last week’s game. Oregon State’s freshman receiver Jesse Legree has 1,219 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, while Boise State has allowed 83 points over its past two games and ranks 121st in yards per play allowed. The recommended bet is Oregon State +14.5 at -110.
In short
- Boise State can clinch a Pac-12 Championship place with a win.
- Both teams face uncertainty at quarterback.
- The article recommends Oregon State +14.5.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Boise State has strong reasons to be favoured: it has won eight consecutive games, and a victory would secure a place in the Pac-12 Championship while strengthening its playoff prospects. Oregon State is without its leading passer, while Boise State’s own quarterback may be available, giving the Broncos a plausible route to exploit the matchup and win by more than two touchdowns.
The case against
Oregon State has a credible case to stay within the 14.5-point spread, even without its starting quarterback: Jesse Legree’s exceptional production gives the team a dangerous receiving threat. Boise State has conceded 83 points across its last two games and ranks poorly in yards allowed per play, while uncertainty over Maddux Madsen’s availability could limit the Broncos’ offence.
Explained simply
The Pac-12 is a US college sports conference whose football teams compete for a place in its championship game. Boise State and Oregon State are conference rivals, and a win for Boise State would secure a championship-game place and strengthen its position in the wider race for the College Football Playoff.
College teams rely on a mix of passing, running and defence, and injuries to key players can affect how they perform. Oregon State’s Braden Atkinson is injured, while Boise State’s Maddux Madsen has missed a game and is uncertain; both teams’ recent form and available players are part of the build-up to the matchup.