Odds are Huskies should devour wounded Buffaloes

For the first time since the season opener against Eastern Washington, the Washington Huskies enter today’s game as a double-digit favorite.

A beat-up and reeling Colorado Buffaloes squad will walk into Husky Stadium with a 1-5 record, no wins in the Pacific-12 Conference and facing the real possibility of going winless in conference play.

Meanwhile, the Huskies are fresh off a bye week with a 4-1 record, 2-0 in conference, and likely a win away from entering The Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Depending on the source, Washington is favored by as many as two touchdowns. The matchups suggest the point spread may actually be conservative.

Put simply, it’s a game Washington should win.

Under coach Steve Sarkisian, the Huskies’ football program is in the midst of a resurrection. Part of the process is winning games you are expected to win in a dominating fashion.

The Huskies have rarely been in that position in Sarkisian’s 21/2-year tenure. More often or not, the Huskies have been underdogs, a role the team relished while knocking off USC in successive years and Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl last season.

“We’ve had moments where we really play the way we want to be playing and the style with which we want to play,” Sarkisian said. “And there are moments when we don’t.”

Now the question is how will the Huskies handle their success?

“The teams that are the best at being successful and continued success is they understand this is where they are supposed to be, and it’s not an arrogance that way, but just that this is where they are supposed to be,” Sarkisian said. “… Great teams don’t get surprised to be in that moment, and they also don’t beat themselves up and say ‘We’re not supposed to be this good’ and knock themselves back down.”

The Huskies almost tripped over their high expectations to start the season. Fresh off a Holiday Bowl win and a stellar fall camp, they came out flat and unemotional against Eastern Washington. Sarkisian called it “embarrassing” and challenged his players to be better.

They listened and improved. And people are starting to notice. Washington just missed cracking the top 25 this week, sophomore quarterback Keith Price was featured in Sports Illustrated, and next week’s battle against Stanford will likely be elevated on the network television schedule.

Success is starting to accelerate. Too fast, perhaps?

Sarkisian doesn’t think so. He believes his players have the right mindset.

“I think our guys are just lovin’ playing ball. They love it. I think they appreciate the opportunities. We only get 13 of these opportunities every year. For all the time, the effort and blood and sweat and tears we put in to prepare for these moments, we only get 13 of them. I don’t envision us coming out and taking a step back in that manner.”

Players such as Price and Senio Kelemete seem to understand that.

“I feel like we are handling it pretty good,” Kelemete said. “The guys are still pushing themselves. I don’t see anyone being complacent.”

Although the offense is flourishing, averaging more than 36 points a game, Price sees room for improvement.

“We still have a lot of growing to do,” he said. “We’ve left a lot of points on the field.”

To a man, the Huskies will tell you they have yet to put together a complete game. Aside from an occasional hiccup, the offense has been outstanding, but the defense has struggled and the special teams have been up and down.

During the week, Sarkisian and some players referenced the adage “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse.”

“I think the great teams understand that,” he said.

Are the Huskies a great team? Winning decisively as the favorite would be a step in the right direction.

“The greatest teams are always striving to get better, they never become complacent with where they are at,” Sarkisian said. “We are learning, we are inexperienced at this, and so there are things we have to learn along the way to continue to grow. I don’t think by any means we are there yet.’’

Ryan Divish: 253-597-8483
ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/uwsports

HUSKIES GAMEDAY

COLORADO (1-5, 0-2 PAC-12) AT WASHINGTON (4-1, 2-0)

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m., Husky Stadium

TV: Root Sports. Radio: 950-AM.

The series: The two teams have met 11 times and each has won five times with one tie. The first meeting was in 1915, while the most recent meeting was in 2000, when the Huskies, under former Colorado coach Rick Neuheisel, defeated the Buffaloes, 17-14, in Boulder. That Washington team would go on to beat Purdue in the Rose Bowl.

What to watch: Two teams headed in very different directions. The Huskies, under coach Steve Sarkisian, have quickly returned to the upper echelon of Pacific-12 Conference teams. Not only has Washington started 4-1, but sophomore quarterback Keith Price also has been outstanding, completing more than 68 percent of his passes and throwing 17 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Colorado (1-5) has struggled in its inaugural Pac-12 season. Its only win came against Colorado State. The Buffaloes played California and Washington State down to the wire before losing. But they are in the midst of a brutal stretch that included last week’s 48-7 pounding by Stanford, followed by Washington today, Oregon next week, then Arizona State and USC. Despite the Buffaloes’ struggles, they are not without talent. Senior quarterback Tyler Hansen has thrown for 1,527 yards and 12 touchdowns, including 474 yards and three touchdowns against Cal. His best target – Paul Richardson – missed last week’s game with a knee injury. His status remains uncertain for today. But Hansen has a solid receiving threat out of the backfield in running back Rodney Stewart. The 5-foot-6 dynamo is particularly dangerous in screen-pass situations. Also, wide receiver Keenan Canty has shown some speed and the ability to get downfield. Washington’s secondary hasn’t exactly been dominant this season but has looked a little better of late.

What’s at stake: For Colorado, a win, any win, in the Pac-12 is important because looking at their upcoming schedule, it’s apparent the Buffs might not win another game. For the Huskies, this could be a “trap game,” where they look past the reeling Buffaloes to next week’s showdown with No. 7 Stanford. But Sarkisian and his players are adamant they will be ready to play, having learned their lesson in the season-opening scare against Eastern Washington. A win for Washington likely would mean an appearance in the Top 25 and some momentum heading to Palo Alto.

The pick: Washington, 42-10

PRIME NUMBERSCOLORADO

No.Name (position)Height/weightYear

5Rodney Stewart (RB)5-6/175Senior

The diminutive running back is hard to find behind CU’s massive offensive line. He’s a lot like Darren Sproles.

7Anthony Perkins (DB)5-10/200Senior

A hard-hitting defensive back, Perkins is the lone veteran in a secondary that often plays two true freshmen and a sophomore.

12Tyler Hansen (QB)6-1/215Senior

Hansen won’t be overwhelmed by Husky Stadium and the crowd. He has played in big games and has flourished.

17Toney Clemons (WR)6-2/210Senior

With Paul Richardson out last week, Clemons has been forced to be more of a go-to receiver. He has the talent to do so.

73Ryan Miller (OG)6-8/295Senior

There might not be a bigger guard in the country than Miller, who is a legitimate NFL prospect because of his size and strength.

WASHINGTON

No.Name (position)Height/weightYear

9Devin Aguilar (WR)6-0/195Senior

The Denver native will get to show the team that refused to recruit him what they missed out on.

17Keith Price (QB)6-1/195Sophomore

He just keeps getting better and better, and an inexperienced Colorado secondary could mean lots of yards and TDs

31Cort Dennison (MLB)6-1/234Senior

Beaten and bruised after the first five games, the bye week of rest has left him rejuvenated and ready to play.

73Drew Schaefer (C)6-4/301Junior

The Buffaloes run plenty of exotic NFL-style blitzes and it will be Schaefer’s job to call out the blitz pick-ups and protections.

97Semisi Tokolahi (DT)6-2/334Junior

The massive tackle was a beast against Utah on a still recovering broken ankle. The bye week only made him more healthy.