Washington (6-4, 3-4) vs. Colorado (4-6, 2-5)
Saturday, November 23rd @ 7:00 p.m. PT
Folsom Field (Boulder, Colorado)
Line: Washington -14.0
TV: ESPN
Radio: KOMO AM-1000/FM-97.7
The Washington Huskies will face off against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field, as they look to push their winning streak to two games.
During their last game, the Huskies defense was simply spectacular as they dominated the Oregon State Beavers 19-7 down in Corvallis.
This week, the Huskies are facing an opponent who recently beat the Stanford Cardinal 16-13 at home. So far this season, Colorado is 2-5 in Pac-12 conference play, which is currently the bottom spot in the Pac-12 South Division.
“It’s a tight venue down there with the crowd on top of you,” Washington head coach Chris Petersen said about playing at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.
Last season, the Huskies beat the Buffaloes 27-13 at Husky Stadium, but first year Colorado coach Mel Tucker wasn’t the coach yet.
Defensively, the Buffaloes will have to find a way to stop the Huskies running game and force them to throw the ball down field.
Offensively, the Huskies should be able to move the ball on the ground and through the air as the Buffaloes give up 469.3 yards per game.
Something has to give, in this contest between the surging Huskies defense and the “finding their way” Buffaloes offense.
KEY PLAYERS: WASHINGTON
QB – Jacob Eason
The junior quarterback transferred from Georgia a couple years ago and possesses one of the strongest arms in the nation for any quarterback. His ability to fit balls into tight passing windows is what makes Eason a threat at all times when the Huskies have the ball.
DB – Myles Bryant
The senior defensive back was converted to safety during the offseason. He is the unquestioned heart and soul of the Husky defense. He was named to the preseason All-Pac-12 first team and was also named to the preseason watch lists for the Nagurski, Thorpe and Bednarik awards.
TE – Hunter Bryant
The junior tight end was named to the preseason All-Pac-12 second team. He was also named to the preseason watch list for the Mackey Award. Bryant is a mismatch nightmare for opposing defenses, with his ability to catch the ball and his physical blocking ability.
KEY PLAYERS: COLORADO
QB – Steven Montez
Senior Steven Montez entered the season as one of 30 quarterbacks on the Davey O’Brien Award watch list for the nation’s best quarterback. He is also on the watch list for the Maxwell Award given to the national player of the year. Montez is a dual threat quarterback who can beat you with his arm and his legs.
WR – Laviska Shenault Jr.
Junior Laviska Shenault Jr. entered the season on the Fred Biletnikoff Award watch list for the most outstanding receiver in the nation. He is on the watch list for the Maxwell Award given to the national player of the year. Shenault Jr. is also on the Paul Hornung Award watch list for the most versatile player in the nation.
ILB – Nate Landman
Junior Nate Landman entered the season on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list for the top defensive player in the nation. He currently leads the Buffaloes with 117 total tackles on the season and averaging 11.7 tackles per game.
ESPN MATCHUP PREDICTOR
GAME NOTES
– HUSKIES vs. BUFFALOES HISTORY: Washington and Colorado have squared off 17 times in their history and the Huskies hold the edge with 12 wins, five losses and one tie. Washington has won nine straight games vs. the Buffaloes, a streak that dates back 20 years. Washington is 7-0 vs. Colorado since the Pac-10 Conference expanded to become the Pac-12, including six wins in the regular season and one in the 2016 Pac-12 Championship game.
– Through 10 games this season, UW has outscored opponents 107-13 in the first quarter.
– A total of 10 different players have led the Huskies in tackles (including ties) … Myles Bryant and Keith Taylor have each led the team twice, while the following eight players have led (or shared) the team in tackles in one game this season: Kyler Gordon, Trent McDuffie, Elijah Molden, Ariel Ngata, Levi Onwuzurike, Joe Tryon, Edefuan Ulofoshio, and Brandon Wellington.
– Both teams are coming off bye weeks after winning their last times out, with each game among the five lowest scoring (combined) conference games this season.
– CU is 1-4-2 in home “doubleheaders” in the Pac-12 (one sweep, four splits and swept twice), going for its second sweep with its first in 2016 over Washington State and Utah.
– Colorado’s live buffalo mascot, Ralphie V, has officially retired; she will be celebrated Saturday, which will also be CU’s annual Senior Day (in this case Senior Night).
PREDICTIONS
Tysen Allumbaugh [“Dawg Thoughts” Show Host] (6-3)
Which road Husky team (cough offense cough) is gonna show up in Boulder?
The marvelous attack that stunned BYU and Arizona… Or the incompetent “attack” that flat-lined against Stanford and Oregon State?
Against BYU and Arizona, the Husky offense averaged 37.5 points (both wins), while they only averaged 16 points in the loss to Stanford and the win over Oregon State. More succinctly, in 2019, the Dawgs score about 27 points per game on the road. Decent but not good enough.
This isn’t to let the defense off the hook, but to stress the importance of POINTS and how much they matter and how inconsistent they’ve been in that regard.
The Buffs have a decent offense but a struggling defense, allowing 33 points per contest in conference games… So the the opportunity is there.
On a personal note, I’ll be in attendance displaying my best behavior 😉
Anyways, Dawgs win an ugly game.
Washington 31 – Colorado 14
Jeff Wright (6-4)
In Chris Petersen’s postgame presser after the Oregon State victory, he said their number one focus heading into the bye week was fixing the passing game. It was abysmal at best last game and finding a rhythm for Eason and the offense has been a constant struggle all season. We are now 10 games into the season and at this point, “you are what you are!” The Huskies are a running team and that is where they have “hung their hat” all season success wise. While we need the passing game to show some production, look for the Huskies to pace the game with their rushing attack. Junior running back Salvon Ahmed has started to find his groove lately with 20+ carries per game and look for that to continue in Boulder. Huskies wear down the Buffaloes defense which opens up a couple explosives down the field to break the game open. The Husky defense keeps Colorado’s offense in front of them all night and comes away with a couple turnovers for the offense. A rested Husky team shows improvement and get’s it done at Folsom Field!
Washington 35 – Colorado 16
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