Washington Huskies: Late Kickoff or No, UW has to Show Out at Home
By Ben Renner
The Washington Huskies have both a 28.5 point spread and a late kickoff tonight at home against the Cal Bears. If they want to earn primetime, they’ll need a blowout.
The Washington Huskies have cruised through their first five games of the season. After their beatdowns of Colorado and Oregon State, they must keep that momentum going at Husky Stadium against the Cal Bears.
Washington Huskies coach Chris Petersen called the 7:45 pm kickoff time tonight against Cal “painful,” and while the late time slot has an effect on national exposure, the sixth-ranked Huskies have a golden opportunity to make strides in their climb into the College Football Playoff under the lights at Husky Stadium.
Iowa State upset number 4-ranked Oklahoma 38-31 in a thriller this afternoon, clearing one spot in the top four. It’s still early in the season, but with a convincing win over 3-2 Cal, the Washington Huskies can move a little closer to the CFP.
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The Huskies will have to at least cover the spread, and I think they will, possibly on the strength of Jake Browning breaking the Washington career passing touchdown record with four more. Even with Bothell High School alumnus Ross Bowers off to an encouraging start, the Bears’ offensive line has done him no favors. Cal has allowed 15 sacks in five games, so if the Washington Huskies can generate pressure, they should hold down the Bears’ passing attack with their overwhelming secondary.
Kirk Herbstreit fired back at Petersen on College Gameday this morning, and while the debate over late kickoff times truly has effects on rankings and the CFP, the Huskies can’t miss this chance given to them by Oklahoma.
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Even though the Bears are an inferior opponent playing on the road, this is big game for UW–an opportunity to position themselves early for a postseason run later.