Washington vs. Texas College Football Playoff prediction: Longhorns the pick

Get the free Action Network app for expert picks, live odds, bet tracking and more. The second College Football Playoff semifinal game kicks off Monday night at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans between the Texas Longhorns and Washington Huskies. Washington captured the Pac 12 championship this season by finishing a perfect 13 0.

The Huskies defeated Oregon in the conference title game, 34 31 as 9.5 point underdogs, marking their second win over the Ducks this season. Washington quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. was in the mix for the Heisman all season long by throwing for 4,218 yards, 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Texas lost just one game this season, which came in the final minute to rival Oklahoma in October.

The Longhorns still managed to win the Big 12 title by routing Oklahoma State, 49 21, as 14.5 point favorites. Texas was a question mark to make the College Football Playoff, but its win at Alabama in September likely solidified a spot in the Top 4. Longhorns’ quarterback Quinn Ewers missed two games because of injury, but still posted 21 touchdown passes and 3,161 yards passing.

These teams are meeting in a bowl game for the second straight season as Washington tripped up Texas in the Alamo Bowl in 2022 as three point underdogs, 27 20. Penix threw two touchdown passes in the win for Washington, while Ewers put up 369 yards passing in the defeat. Though Washington is undefeated, the Huskies are an underdog in this neutral site affair, as UW owns a 2 0 record when receiving points this season.

Let’s lay the points with Texas in this spot as a slight favorite to hand Washington its first loss and advance to the national championship in Houston. The play: Texas 3.5.