Boise State vs Washington State Picks and Predictions for Saturday October 24 2026
Seventeen and a half points. On the road. That’s what Boise State is being asked to cover Saturday, and I’m not buying it. The Broncos have won five straight, sure. They’re also coming off a game where Fresno State hung 31 on them. Washington State isn’t very good, but asking Boise to win by nearly three touchdowns in Pullman is a little rich for me.
The Broncos head to Gesa Field at Martin Stadium on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Kickoff is set for 6:00 PM ET on USA Network. Boise State is laying 17.5 at -110, with the total sitting at 50.5. The Broncos had last weekend off. Washington State didn’t, and the Cougars probably wish they had. Oregon State beat them 48-30. We’ll need a closer look at the Pullman weather before kickoff, especially the wind. For more games, check out our free college football picks.
Boise State Keeps Winning, But That Defense Worries Me
Boise State is 5-1, with its only loss coming against Oregon in the opener. Since then, five wins in a row. The Broncos beat Memphis, South Dakota, Western Michigan, Utah State, and Fresno State. That last one finished 38-31, and Boise had to work for it. Fresno made things interesting in the fourth quarter before the Broncos finally put it away. Boise is 2-1 on the road, and both wins came against teams it was expected to beat. The Broncos deserve to be favored Saturday. Seventeen and a half is another conversation.
Boise has scored at least 32 points in every game this season. That’s the good stuff. The problem is the defense has given up 34 to Oregon, 24 to South Dakota, and 31 to Fresno State. The Broncos aren’t exactly shutting everybody down. Fresno moved the football well enough to make that game uncomfortable, and Boise had to keep scoring. Washington State has been pretty lousy offensively, so maybe this is where the Broncos finally put together four good defensive quarters. But I’m not giving them credit for something they haven’t done consistently.
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Maddux Madsen threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns against Fresno State. No interceptions, either. That’s a good night from your quarterback. Dylan Riley was even better, rushing for 150 yards on 19 carries and adding 64 receiving yards. Two touchdowns altogether. Riley has been the guy making this offense go, and Washington State is going to have its hands full trying to tackle him. The Broncos also have Sire Gaines contributing to the running game. Boise can hurt you in a few different ways. That’s why I expect them to win. I just don’t know that I trust the defense enough to lay this many points.
Washington State Is Having A Miserable Season
Washington State is 1-6. One win, and that came against Duquesne. The Cougars lost to Washington, Kansas State, Arizona, Fresno State, Utah State, and Oregon State. They’ve lost four straight since that Duquesne game, and the latest was a 48-30 beating at Oregon State. At least they scored 30 this time. They’d managed only 22 combined against Fresno State and Utah State. That’s a rough stretch for an offense, and it explains why Boise is such a heavy favorite.
Here’s the problem for Washington State. The Cougars can’t put together a full game. They scored 24 against Arizona and lost by ten. They scored 30 against Oregon State and lost by 18. Against Fresno State, they managed six points. The passing game hasn’t been giving anybody much to worry about, and the defense has been getting pushed around. Boise just ran all over Fresno State, and that’s not good news for a Washington State team trying to stop a five-game winning streak. The Cougars have to get some stops early. If they’re down 21-3 before halftime, this could get ugly.
Caden Pinnick threw for only 156 yards against Utah State, completing 23 of 36 passes. That’s barely four yards per attempt. The week before, he threw for 152 against Fresno State and had an interception. Washington State can’t keep asking its defense to survive while the offense throws short passes and punts. Somebody needs to make a play downfield. The Cougars have had some production from their backs, but they need more from the offensive line. And against Boise’s running game, that defense had better show up ready to tackle. Riley doesn’t need much room.
Boise State vs Washington State Picks and Predictions
Washington State +17.5 (-110)
I’m taking Washington State and the 17.5. Don’t mistake that for me thinking the Cougars are suddenly good. They’re 1-6 for a reason. But Boise gave up 31 to Fresno State, 24 to South Dakota, and 34 to Oregon. That’s three games where the defense allowed enough points to make covering a big spread difficult. Washington State just scored 30 at Oregon State, so there’s at least some reason to think the Cougars can contribute. Boise should run the football well, and Riley might have another huge afternoon. That’s the part that worries me. But I can see the Broncos getting ahead, taking their foot off the gas, and allowing Washington State to hang around within the number. Boise wins. I’m taking the points.
Under 50.5 Points (-110)
The under is a tougher call. Boise has scored at least 32 in every game, and Washington State just played a 78-point game at Oregon State. Not exactly encouraging if you’re holding an under ticket. But the Cougars scored six against Fresno State and 16 against Utah State. Their offense has been unreliable, and Boise has had an extra week to get ready. I think the Broncos will lean on Riley and the running game, especially if they get ahead. That should keep the clock moving. Washington State needs to make Boise earn its points rather than handing over short fields. I’m thinking something around 30-17. Not pretty. Just enough to cash the under.
Final Picks: Washington State +17.5 (-110) and Under 50.5 Points (-110)
This article was completed October 18, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and game-time weather may change before Saturday’s kickoff.
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