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How they match up: Cal versus UW On Saturday, Washington (4-7, 3-5) hosts 19th ranked California (8-3, 5-3) at Husky Stadium, in the last game of the conference season for both teams. Washington shutout Washington State last week, while Cal enjoyed a week off.
-- Tedford (48) versus Sarkisian (35): In his eighth year at California, Jeff Tedford is 8-3 on the season, and 67-33 overall. Best known for his development of quarterbacks, Tedford, along with running backs coach Ron Gould, has produced seven consecutive 1,000 yard rushers over his stint with Cal. Tedford resuscitated a moribund Cal program in 2002, posting a 7-5 season after the Bears went 1-10 under the previous coach, Tom Holmoe, in the 2001 season. The Golden Bears have won five of six bowl games under Tedford's watch, and are headed for a school-record seventh consecutive bowl game. Steve Sarkisian, in his nascent year as a head coach, is 4-7 at Washington. Sarkisian holds a signature win over USC, which was ranked third in the nation at the time. His unbridled enthusiasm for the game has instilled an undaunted quest for winning in his players that has prevailed in almost every game the Huskies have played this season. In their last game, the Huskies physically dominated WSU in the Apple Cup, holding the Cougars scoreless, while giving a 100% effort the entire game. However, in their preceding game, the Dawgs zeal for competing was put to question in a 48-21 loss to Oregon State, with the Huskies looking listless and inept when the outcome was on the line. UW needs to finish the season on a positive note by giving a 100% effort against Cal. Its performance in the Apple Cup plus a "relentless" effort against Cal will give impetus to Washington's rebuilding effort. As Vince Lombardi said, "Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is." -- TB: Polk versus Best and/or Vereen: The Huskies' Chris Polk is averaging 92.6 yards-per-game rushing and is ranked 6th in the Pac-10. The Bears' Jahvid Best has accumulated 867 yards, while averaging 96.3 yard per game over a nine-game stint. According to reports, he will miss Saturday's game because of a severe concussion and back injury he suffered on November 7 against Oregon State. Last season, Best rushed for a school record 311 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Bears to a 48-7 victory over the Huskies at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. Shane Vereen, averaging 67.1 yards per game, ranks seventh in the conference, and will fill in for Best. In the Bears' last two games, Vereen ran for 159 yards against Arizona and 193 yards against Stanford. The wildcat formation seems to suit his running style best. -- QB: Locker versus Riley: QB Jake Locker leads the conference in total offense, averaging 260.3 yards per game. His passing efficiency rating is 124.7, which ranks 7th in the conference. He's thrown 18 touchdowns against 11 picks, the latter tying USC's Matt Barkley for the most in the Pac-10. Kevin Riley, a Junior, ranks fourth in the conference in passing efficiency with a rating of 133.5. He's thrown 16 touchdown passes against 6 picks. -- Anger versus Mahan Brian Anger of Cal ranks fourth in the conference as a punter, averaging 42.6 yards per punt. Washington's Will Mahan ranks seventh, averaging 41.3 yards per punt. -- Butler versus Mohamed LB Donald Butler of Washington ranks third in the conference in tackles per game at 8.0. Cal's Mike Mohamed leads the conference in this category averaging 9.1. Also in that category, UW's Mason Foster ranks fifth (7.5 tpg). Mohamed has 100 total tackles on the season, while Butler has 88 to go along with Foster's 82, the two of them the most dominating pair of any team in the league in registering total tackles. Foster leads the league in forcing fumbles (.45 fumbles per game); Butler is tied for third (.27 fpg), as is DE Daniel Te'o-Nesheim (.27 fpg). As an aggregate, these three Huskies have forced 11 fumbles on the season. -- Statistical matchup: Of the 26 comparable statistical entries shown by Table 2, Washington wins 9.5 of them to Cal's 16.5. Table 1, Category Summary (summary of stats in Table 2 below)
-- To win the game: The Huskies need to stay with their season-long game plan that is centered on ball control. In this vein, the UW quarterback, Locker, must complete at least 60% of his passes to keep the chains moving, while keeping Washington's leaky defense, against both the run and pass, off the field as much as possible. Winning the turnover battle and limiting penalty yards will help maintain ball control throughout most of the contest. -- What to expect: Expect a matchup of strengths against weaknesses: (1)a passing offense that ranks third in the conference (UW's) against a pass defense that ranks ninth (Cal's), and (2) a rushing offense that ranks third in the league (Cal's) against a rush defense that ranks ninth (UW's). Running the ball while stopping the opponent's run game will be key to winning. Advantage: Cal. Expect Locker to help Polk out with the running chores if Cal puts the collar on Polk early in the game. Advantage: UW. Although Cal is a 7-point favorite, I'm going with Washington because of Locker and the passion the young Huskies have shown for competing this season. Prediction: UW 30, Cal 27
1. Ball Control
2. Blocking and Tackling
3. Mistakes
4. Field Position
5. Scoreboard Baby
Richard Linde can be reached at malamute@4malamute.com |
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