The No. 10 Washington Huskies will face off against the Utah Utes to kick off conference play. Here is everything you need to know before Saturday’s game.
After securing a spot in the 2017 College Football Playoff, the Washington Huskies came up short against Auburn in the season opener.
Quarterback Jake Browning had off-season shoulder surgery and has struggled at times, but don’t forget that Browning was the 2016 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and the most efficient quarterback in the Pac-12 last season, a conference that included top-10 picks Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen.
The Utah Utes come into the game undefeated but struggled to get past Northern Illinois last weekend. The Utes led by only four points late in the fourth quarter, when safety Chase Hansen returned an interception to the house to secure the game.
The Huskies know they must win games in dominant fashion to impress the selection committee and get themselves back in Playoff contention, but Utah plans to make things difficult when Washington visits Rice-Eccles Stadium this Saturday.
How to watch and bet on Washington vs. Utah
Date: Saturday, Sept. 15
Start Time: 10 p.m. ET
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
TV Info: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN, FuboTV
Betting Odds
Points Spread: Washington -6.5
Money Line: Washington -250, Utah +215
O/U: 47.5
Keys to Victory
Washington – The key for the Huskies on Saturday will be on the offensive side of the ball, which faces the top-ranked Utah defense. Jake Browning has thrown three interceptions on the season, including two against North Dakota last weekend. The Washington quarterback will have to regain his form or the Utes defense will limit Washington.
Running back Myles Gaskin, the schools all-time leading rusher, ran all over Utah last season and finished the game with 166 total yards and three touchdowns. If Gaskin can repeat the performance, it would take a load off Browning, who is being looked at as the key to victory for Washington.
Utah – The Utes defense has been dominant this season, allowing only 144 yards and 8 points per game, but they have yet to face an offense with the weapons Washington will bring to the table this weekend. Last season, Utah took the Huskies to the wire but came up short in the 33-30 loss.
The key for Utah to escape with a victory will be another dominant performance on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive end Bradlee Anae Jr. and cornerback Julian Blackman Jr. have the ability to lead this team to an upset victory over Washington, but it will take an all-around performance to top the Huskies.
Prediction
Look for an upset alert on the ticker Saturday night, because this Utah defense is poised to shut down Browning and the Washington offense.
Final Score – Utah 21, Washington 20