USC-Oregon St., Stanford-Washington, and More Highlight Vegas Pac 12 Predictions for Week 5
Saturday Blitz Vegas Pac 12 Predictions Week 5
Game of the Week 1A
Stanford Cardinal at Washington Huskies
Line: Stanford by 7.5
Here is a game that could turn into an epic showdown. Two Pac 12 teams that don’t focus on racking up tons of yards through the air go head to head in this match-up, and it’s a huge Pac 12 North game. Although Oregon is the clear-cut frontrunner to win that division, Stanford and Washington would both like to give the Ducks a run for their money, with Stanford looking to win the division for a third straight year. This game will decide who remains in the running for that.
The Cardinal are still looking for a significant win after such a heartbreaking loss to USC in the second week of the season. That close loss that never should have happened meant a lot at the time, but all of it could be erased if the team wins out. To do that, starting this Saturday against Washington, the defense has to step up the way it has been stepping up with the Huskies relying on a heavy rushing attack to get to 4-0. The front seven has been fine this year, so it will have to win that battle with the Washington offensive line and against their running backs. On offense, the Cardinal just need to play their game, using long drives with a balanced attack to score. Kevin Hogan is more than capable of doing that because of how efficient he is at quarterbacks, but if the Cardinal are going to win this way, they can’t make mistakes. That cannot be stressed enough, because this team self-destructed against USC. If they hold onto the football, make easy field goals, and don’t go backwards when they get into Washington territory, they have the team to pull out the win.
The Huskies have finally put together two complete games after beating Hawaii thanks to defense and beating Eastern Washington thanks to offense. A blowout win against Georgia State is not a lot to celebrate, but coming off of a blowout win against Illinois, it appears Chris Petersen’s team has at least finally found a rhythm. That has to continue into this game. Although Petersen will want to run the ball a lot, as the Huskies have been doing, to score lots of points, Cyler Miles is going to have to be more of an efficient pocket passer this week against the Cardinal. That defense is too good to let him run around trying to make plays, and it’s strong enough to where a one-sided attack won’t be good enough for a victory. Washington needs more of a balanced attack, and it needs to try to force a few turnovers on defense. Outside of one game, the defense has played pretty well for the most part, especially when you consider holding a great offense like Illinois to 19 points, but going up against Stanford is an entirely different animal. This group will have to step it up a level to get the win.
Prediction
Washington and Stanford will be locked in a great game through the fourth quarter, but Stanford will pull it out in the end. The Cardinal won’t make the same mistakes they made against USC, and by holding onto the football they’ll force Washington to play their game. Stanford will prove that it is still among the better teams in college football with such a balanced attack, and Hogan’s ability to stand in the pocket and make better throws will be the difference since that is something Miles is still working on. Good quarterback play, solid defense, and limiting turnovers will be enough for Stanford to get a Stanford-type victory.
Stanford: 24 Washington: 17