Week 1 Game Matchup: LSU Tigers VS. Washington Huskies
LSU Tigers (0-0) vs. Washington Huskies (0-0)
Saturday, September 5, 7:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: LSU -17.0
Sam’s Take (0 – 0):
If not for Boise State vs. Oregon, this would be the marquee non-conference game of the week in the Pac-10. I am intrigued by this match-up because of the energy surrounding Husky football right now. While I’m not expecting great things from UW in 2009, the Dawgs have an opportunity to build some real momentum early in the Sarkisian era with LSU coming to Seattle. To a certain extent, this game reminds me of Tennessee-UCLA from last season. After all, Tennessee was coming off of an SEC East title and very few expected UCLA to pull out that win (even if Tennessee would go on to a terrible 5-7 season including a home loss to Wyoming).
The only reason I’m having trouble picking the upset is because the LSU power run game looks like a little too much for a Washington D that ranked 117th against the run last season. Even with a solid group of LBs led by E.J. Savannah and a great anchor on the D-line like DE Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, LSU is a well-oiled machine on the ground with bruising tailback Charles Scott leading the way. If DC Nick Holt can find a way to frustrate LSU’s attack with creative schemes, the game may become interesting, but it’s hard for me to see that happening for four quarters.
The perfect scenario for U-Dub is as follows:
Jake Locker starts the game on fire (looking like he did during the spring game), which should ignite an already energized Husky stadium. With all of the crowd noise, LSU sophomore QB Jordan Jefferson makes a few ill-advised passes (easily possible since he completed only 49% of his throws last year), and the Huskies capitalize on a couple early picks. If Washington can somehow get off to an early lead, say 14-0 or 17-3, then Jefferson will have to throw often, and that should bode well for the home team.
There are a ton of ifs involved, but this scenario is possible.
In the end, I expect a tight game but LSU’s ability to control the line of scrimmage will be the reason that they pull away in the fourth quarter.
Prediction: LSU 34 – Washington 24
LSU Player to Keep an Eye On: RB Charles Scott - Washington cannot expect to stop him entirely, but if they can limit him to 3.5 yards a carry or less then the game should be interesting.
Washington Player to Keep an Eye On: QB Jake Locker – He is the key to everything. If he starts well, the Dawgs fans will go crazy and that positive energy carries over to every other player. He must be accurate and make good decisions as he has this off-season.
Dave’s Take (0 – 0):
You wouldn’t expect a matchup between a perennial SEC powerhouse and a team coming off of a win-less season to be so interesting, but here we are.
Coach Steve Sarkisian and the return of Jake Locker have people excited about the future instead of dwelling on the past. And speaking of the past, it is hard to believe in the murky memories of countless double digit losses that it was only last year that Washington drove down the field on what should have been a game tying drive against BYU, only to have a bogus unsportsmanlike conduct penalty eventually cost them the game.
Remembering that game, it isn’t hard to imagine Washington making a game of this one, especially with what should be a hostile environment and an inexperienced Jordan Jefferson at the helm. On the flip side, it also isn’t hard to imagine Washington getting completely blown out as they were so many times last year.
In the end, I have to lean towards a comfortable LSU victory. While a close game wouldn’t surprise me at all, you can’t ignore that LSU is the athletically superior team, perhaps most noticeably on the lines.
I can’t really see Washington getting their running backs going against this D-line and LB core, and we do have to remember that this is Jake Locker’s first real game in almost an entire year, with a new playbook and system to boot. Even for a super-athlete like Locker, you have to expect a learning curve, especially against a defense like this one.
If the bounces go Washington’s way and Jordan Jefferson gets rattled, this could be a very dangerous game for the Tigers. But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I think the Huskies will have to wait until next week to crack this losing streak.
Prediction: LSU 38 – Washington 13
Washington Huskies
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Charles Scott, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, E.J. Savannah, Football, Game Matchup, Jake Locker, Jordan Jefferson
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