Pac-12 Game Preview: Washington vs. Stanford

The fifth-ranked Stanford Cardinal are currently riding one of the longest winning streaks in the nation (12 games dating back to last season), but the last time they ran into the Washington Huskies, things weren’t so perfect as the Cardinal suffered one of their two losses of 2012.

Stanford’s players clearly remember that 17-13 defeat in Seattle a year ago and that feeling of disappointment is something the Cardinal plan on shaking as they seek revenge against the Huskies, who enter today’s re-match ranked No.15 in the country.

“Definitely not an experience I want to have again,” Stanford left tackle Andrus Peat said, according to ESPN.com.

Stanford failed to score a single offensive touchdown against the Huskies last time these teams met, but with a new quarterback in Kevin Hogan at the helm – who is 9-0 since taking over for Josh Nunes – the Cardinal figure to have a much better chance to put up points at home against even a stout Huskies defense.

“Kevin’s mobility changes things,” Stanford coach David Shaw said. “He allows us to be a much more diverse offense.”

Of course, Washington’s starting quarterback, Keith Price, has a similar skill set, with the ability to create plays on the run. Price has played some of the best football of his career recently, throwing for more than 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns in Washington’s first four games of the 2013 season.

Washington looks to be fielding its finest squad in quite sometime as it aims for a 5-0 start for the first time since 1992. Along with Price’s impressive numbers, the Huskies boast one of the nation’s top ground games, led by Bishop Sankey, who has racked up more than 600 rushing yards in four games and is averaging nearly six yards per carry.

Then again, it will be much tougher for Washington to run the ball against Stanford, which is well-known for its stout front seven. The Cardinal have limited opponents to fewer than 20 points per game so far this season and should be able to effectively defend their home turf against the incoming Huskies as well.

But that doesn’t mean the Huskies won’t be able to keep things close against the defending Pac-12 champs today. Stanford should earn the win at home, but expect Washington to make a game of it, covering +8 in the process. The Huskies’ solid run game and improved defense will give them a chance to notch a second straight upset, but the with a stronger QB, the Cardinal should be able to fend them off in the end.