Washington vs. Baylor: Last-Minute Spread Info, Line and More for Alamo Bowl

There can only be one bowl game that features the current year’s Heisman Trophy winner. Luckily for the Alamo Bowl, they get to feature the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III. His Baylor Bears (9-3, 6-3) take on the Washington Huskies (7-5, 5-4). 

This game may see Griffin III play in his last collegiate football game at Baylor. However, this year’s Heisman Trophy winner may decide to stay in college for his senior year. If he does, he has a great shot at becoming just the second player ever to win back-to-back Heisman trophies. 

Where: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX

When: Thursday, December 29th, 9:00 PM ET

Watch: ESPN and ESPN3.com

Listen: Baylor: KRZI 1660 AM Washington: KELA 1470 AM 

Betting Line: According to SBG Global, the line for this game has the Baylor Bears as a -9.5 point favorite. You will see the Bears be able to cover this game because of their explosive offense led by Griffin III.

Key Storyline: Will this be the last game at Baylor for Griffin III?

Baylor Injury Report

CB Tyler Stephenson is questionable for their bowl game with an ankle injury. The injury kept Stephenson out of their last game against Texas. 

CB Chance Casey is questionable with an ankle injury. The injury has kept Casey out since Week 10. 

DB Demetri Goodson is questionable with an ankle injury. This ankle injury has kept him out since Week 9. 

Washington Injury Report

CB Adam Long is probable for the Alamo Bowl with a knee injury. He has missed the last four games with this injury, but he may be back for the game against Baylor.

LB Garret Gilliland is questionable with a back injury. The back injury has the linebacker at day-to-day with the injury. 

S Will Shamburger is questionable with a neck injury that caused him to miss the team's last game against Washington State.

What it Means for Baylor

A win for Baylor would cap off their greatest year in the history of their football program. They saw their first-ever Heisman Trophy winner in Griffin III as well as wins over Oklahoma and Texas, and a bowl win would just be the icing on the cake. 

What it Means for Washington

A win for Washington would be a great finish to a successful season. After the Huskies lost last year’s quarterback Jake Locker to the NFL draft, they were expected to struggle this year. However, they’re 7-5, with a great chance to finish 8-5 this year. 

What They're Saying

Baylor: Baylor could have gone to a couple of bowl games but opted to stay in Texas to play in front of their fans in San Antonio. From Jerry Hill with the Baylor Bear Insider: 

"

Several of the players had expressed an interest in going out of state for the bowl game, but quarterback Robert Griffin III said this "is a much better scenario."

"We could have gone to California or Arizona," Griffin said of possible bowl destinations that included the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., and the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, Calif. "But our fan base wouldn't have traveled as well. It's good to stay in Texas. That way we can have a good following."

“I had a ton of friends...who expressed interest in us staying in-state,” senior linebacker Elliot Coffey said, "because it was just easier for them, especially with the close proximity of Christmas and New Year's. Just with the travel times, it was easier for them to stay in-state. So I was kind of cheering for us to be in Texas, and the way it played out is great for me and my family."

 

"

Washington: The Huskies are faced with the question of what happens if their talented running back Chris Polk leaves for the NFL after the Alamo Bowl. Bob Condotta from the Seattle Times caught up with UW coaches to see what their mentality is heading into what may be Polk’s final game at UW. 

"

The conventional wisdom is no, though Polk insisted when he met with reporters earlier this month that he had yet to think about his decision and wouldn't until after Thursday's Alamo Bowl game with Baylor in San Antonio.

It's a question UW coaches also want to avoid for now.

"Until we know otherwise, I'm just thinking about Baylor and running the ball with No. 1 (Polk)," said UW running-backs coach Joel Thomas.

"

Baylor Player to Watch: Robert Griffin III

This entire game is built around what the man they call “RG3” will do. He ended his 2011 season on an insane run going for 13 passing touchdowns, six rushing touchdowns, 1,623 passing yards and 117 rushing yards, in his final five games of the year. 

Washington Player to Watch: Chris Polk

Polk had his second straight year carrying the ball over 260 times with over 1,300 rushing yards and averaging over five yards per carry. 

His final five games saw Polk rush for 469 yards and six touchdowns. However, in a game against Arizona, Polk had an amazing day of 34 carries, 144 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 100 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. 

Key Matchup: Baylor’s Wide Receivers vs. Washington’s Secondary

Baylor’s receivers thrived off of the excellent play of their quarterback. Two of their receivers finished with double-digit touchdowns, with three receivers finishing with over 800 receiving yards. 

Washington was one of the worst defenses against receivers this year, giving up 3,407 yards with teams going off for 284 yards per game. Teams caught a staggering 21 touchdowns against the Washington secondary during the 2011 season. 

Prediction

Baylor has too much offense for Washington to withstand. Griffin III will have another game where he passes for over 350 yards  with three touchdowns. Baylor will win this game in front of their fans who only have to travel four hours down IH-35 to San Antonio. 

Baylor 45 - Washington 31 

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