Sep. 5— Washington State at Washington
Sunday, 1 p.m.
Line: UW favored by 23 1/2
TV: NBC Radio: 920-AM
Key matchup
WSU edges vs. UW OL: There may be no bigger matchup in Sunday's game than this: How will WSU defensive ends Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk fare against UW offensive tackles Kodi Greene and Drew Azzopardi ?
Transfers from Idaho and Vanderbilt respectively, McLain and Zunk blossomed as one of the biggest stories to come out of WSU's spring ball and fall camp, using their size and athleticism to generate consistent pass rush. But going up against your own teammates is not the same thing as facing Greene, a five-star true freshman, and Azzopardi, a fifth-year senior who will be playing his 33rd career college game.
If McLain and Zunk can produce meaningful pressure on Washington QB Demond Williams Jr. , the Cougars defense has a much better chance of disrupting him and creating a turnover or two, perhaps shifting the tide of the game. If not, it could be a long day for WSU's defense, no matter how sharp that group looked during fall camp.
How the Cougs win...
On defense, WSU's game plan needs to involve consistent pressure on UW quarterback Demond Williams. On offense, the Cougars would do well to get their running game going, which does two things: It keeps the clock running and keeps the ball away from the Huskies' potent offense. And it relieves some pressure off WSU QB Caden Pinnick, who endured a nightmare start last season at Husky Stadium playing for UC Davis, completing 8 of 16 passes for 50 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Pinnick may have a far more talented supporting cast at WSU, but it's a tall ask for a redshirt sophomore to walk into Husky Stadium and take down a talented UW defense. If the Cougars can get meaningful production from running backs Kirby Vorhees and Maxwell Woods — if their offensive line can create push up front — Pinnick won't feel the pressure to make superstar plays and press early in the game.
How the Huskies win...
UW can win this game all kinds of ways, but the likeliest involves its defense, which gets a chance to give Pinnick an inauspicious welcome to his Cougar tenure. During fall camp, WSU's offense had more than its fair share of shaky moments, and it's possible the Cougars clean those up headed into Sunday's game — but it's no promising way to enter a game against a UW defense that brings back 11 players who made starts last fall.
In UW defensive coordinator Ryan Walters' 4-2-5 scheme, linebacker trio Jacob Manu , Xe'ree Alexander and Zaydrius Rainey-Sale could vault into one of the nation's premier linebacker units, with a splash of former Cougar Buddah Al-Uqdah sprinkled in. Pinnick will also have to keep an eye out for safety Alex McLaughlin, who picked off two passes in last year's Apple Cup.
Key stat: 87.1
Last season at UC Davis, Pinnick registered a Pro Football Focus passing grade of 87.1 against the blitz, which is a remarkable number.
Pinnick will be tested against a UW defense which will likely bring
heavy pressure in the pocket
on Sunday.
Biggest question
Can the Cougs' defense supply a turnover or two? As 24.5-point underdogs, WSU needs everything to fall into place to pull an upset in this game. For the Cougars, there may be no better way to swing things than to create a turnover, which could come from McLain or Zunk's pressure on Williams.
Quotable
WSU DT Kaden Beatty: "I'm a Coug now, through and through. It's in my blood. I bleed crimson and gray. So now, just having this rivalry is just something that I'm thrilled to be a part of. And now, I'm gonna be immersed in history with some of the other greats that have went through this building, these walls, and so I couldn't be more excited and more fired up."
