DAWGS PREVIEW #2 WASHINGTON HUSKIES @ #10 OREGON STATE BEAVERS

'DSC_9034' Photo Credit: osubeaver2000 via Flickr

The Washington Huskies (10-0 7-0 Pac 12) will travel to Corvallis, OR to face the Oregon State Beavers (9-1 6-1 Pac 12). Oregon State -2.5 O/U 63.5

BROADCAST INFORMATION:

- 7:30 PM Eastern Time Kickoff on ABC

- Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will be on the call for the ABC and Holly Rowe will be on the sideline.

- On the Washington side the radio broadcast will be on FM 93.3.

- On the Oregon State side the radio broadcast will be on AM 1240.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Washington is ranked No. 5 in the College Football Playoffs and needs to keep winning to earn a spot in the final four. Michael Penix, Jr. is a potential Heisman Trophy candidate and one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Oregon State is fighting for positioning in the Pac-12 standings. The Beavers are currently in fourth place and have the honor of facing the top two teams in their final two games, Washington and Oregon. These last two games will define the Beavers 2023 season.

KEY PLAYERS - Washington

QB Michael Penix, Jr. – 68% passes completed, 3,533 yards, 28 TD, 7 Int.

WR Rome Odunze – 59 catches for 1,100 yards, 9 TD.

KEY PLAYERS - Oregon State

QB DJ Uiagalelei – 58.6% passes completed, 2,254 yards, 20 TD, 4 INT

RB Damien Martinez – 1,024 rushing yards, 7 TD

KEY MATCHUPS

Washington’s pass offense against Oregon State’s pass defense. The Huskies are averaging 378.0 passing yards per game, which leads the nation, and is almost 40 yards per game more than 2nd ranked Oregon’s 338.7. The Oregon State defense gives up 230.5 passing yards per game, 73rd in the nation. The Beavers are tied for 4th in the country with 3.6 sacks per game and tied for 10th with 12 interceptions. This looks like it will be a strength versus strength matchup!

Oregon State’s rushing attack against a bad Washington defense, that gives up 409.9 total yards per game. The Beavers are averaging 196.9 rushing yards per game, good enough for 19th in the country. Washington’s defense is giving up 140.3 rushing yards per game, which is 50th in the country. If the Huskies can keep the Beavers around 140 yards on the ground that will be a success for Washington.

PREDICTION:

Washington’s passing attack is deadly but has shown that it can be slowed down by good defenses. The Beavers are good defensively and have shown they can get to the quarterback as well as create turnovers. Washington struggles to run the ball, only averaging 125.9 yards per game. However, with that passing attack, they do not need to run the ball much. DJ Uiagalelei has looked better as the season has progressed and if Oregon State is going to beat Washington they will need to match the Huskies punch for punch. I am not sure I trust DJ U enough to believe they will do that. I’ll take that Air Raid invasion over the Beavers’ ground game. Washington wins 37-31. Take U-Dub getting points and the over!