Herald Staff
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. at Husky Stadium.
TV, radio: KTWB (Ch. 10/22, cable), KOMO radio (1000 AM).
Washington: 5-1, 2-1 in Pacific-10 Conference play.
Cal: 2-4, 1-2 in Pacific-10 Conference play.
Washington: Rick Neuheisel, 45-20-0 in his sixth season overall, 12-6 in his second at Washington.
Cal: Tom Holmoe, 14-25 in his fourth year.
Washington: Three true freshmen will start for the Huskies. Rich Alexis will start at tailback for Paul Arnold, hobbled with assorted injuries. Justin Robbins starts at wideout and Derrick Johnson starts at corner in place of Anthony Vontoure, who is nursing turf toe. The Huskies desperately need to give quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo some help. The receivers are dropping passes and having trouble getting open. The offensive line isn’t nearly as dominating as it was last season. The defense, led by nose tackle Larry Tripplett and free safety Hakim Akbar, figures to handle anything the Bears can throw at it.
Cal: Quarterback Kyle Boller has been maligned, but he’s just a sophomore. Tailback Joe Igber ran for 180 yards against the Huskies last year. Punter Nick Harris has a knack for pinning opponents inside the 10. Defensive end Andre Carter might be the best defensive lineman in the conference. He and defensive tackle Jacob Waasdorp likely will play on Sundays.
Washington: WR Chris Juergens (knee) is out, FB Pat Conniff (knee) is out, TE Kevin Ware (ankle) is probable, TB Paul Arnold (knee, back) is probable, LB Jafar Williams (shoulder, knee) is out, CB Anthony Vontoure (toe) is probable.
Cal: CB LaShaun Ward (internal injuries) is out; WR Charon Arnold (knee) is doubtful; TB Saleem Muhammad (ankle) is questionable; C Reed Diehl (hip) is probable.
Washington: The Huskies have yet to put a complete game together. Last week, six turnovers nearly ruined a superb defensive effort. If the Huskies play even close to their promise, they shouldn’t have much trouble chalking up their 18th straight victory over the Bears.
Cal: Get a quick start and get the Huskies back on their heels early. Make a couple of early stops on defense and plant some doubt. If Harris pins Washington deep in its territory, the offense has shown little ability to sustain long drives. If Igber duplicates last year’s performance, the Bears have a chance, but they have to stay away from mistakes.
The feeling is that Cal can’t turn in two decent performances in a row and left its game in the three-overtime victory against UCLA last week. If the Huskies’ offense can play badly as poorly as it did against ASU and win, it can happpen against the Bears.
Pick: Washington, 31-17.