NCAA Football
2010-10-30 - Stanford Cardinal at Washington Huskies
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
Football : United States : NCAA : Week 9
Saturday 30 October 2010 - Kickoff 7pm ET
Midnight (British Standard Time)
Preview
Washington (3-4) come into this game looking to get a better performance from their banged up QB Jake Locker. Locker is usually a dual threat QB with the ability to make as many strong moves with his legs as he is with his arms. He currently has been ailed by a bruised thigh and ribs and this limited him last week in a heavy loss at Arizona.
The play calling was changed last week to ensure Locker did not take unnecessary hits, but this allowed the Arizona Defense to pin back their ears and rush him in the pocket. Arizona got to him 4 times and ensured Locker lost 24 yards in 6 attempts to run the ball.
The last thing Locker and the Huskies need is to face another marquee QB who can put up big points on the board. Unfortunately that is what they get in Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinals (6-1).
Luck moved into the Semi Finals for the award as the nations best QB, some accolade, and he currently leads the PAC-10 in total yards gained, ranking 2nd in TD passes and passing efficiency. Luck will also have one eye on making a bit of history and surpassing the school's best ever of 27 TD passes in a season- who holds that record now you ask? The one and only John Elway!
The Cardinal Defense must have felt they have been getting taken advantage of in recent games, allowing 3 TDs to Washington State last week that allowed them to keep the score respectable after Stanford had opened a 31-7 half time lead. The Defense had allowed just 55 points over the first 4 games this season, but since being torched for 52 points by Oregon, they have allowed 63 points in their last 2 games.
Stanford do have a couple of injuries to contend with as both Chris Owusu and Delano Howell are likely to be missing.
Head to Head
Stanford beat the Huskies by 20 last season at home and have now won 3 of the last 4 matches between the teams, including the last 2 here in Washington.
That win last season was the only time Luck and Locker have faced each other.
Washington are 18-38-2 against the spread in recent home games and they have a 6-13 record against teams with winning records.
Stanford are 2-1 on the road both straight up and against the spread this season. Washington are 2-2 in home games but are 1-3 against the spread in those games, including losing their last 3.
Prediction
I am going to take the Stanford Cardinals to get the win minus the points here. They have more potential in the Offense and it will be hard for Washington to keep up with Jake Locker being banged up.
The game could be a shootout and I struggle to see Washington hanging on to the coat tails here. I see Stanford winning by 10 points here.
The Pick :
Washington Huskies 24-34 Stanford Cardinal
BEST BETTING TIP :
Stanford Cardinal - 7 Points
