Arizona vs. Washington Prediction, Game Preview

The Washington Huskies (3-4) host the Arizona Wildcats (5-3) in a borderline must-win for their bowl hopes. Check out the Arizona vs. Washington prediction and game preview.

Arizona vs. Washington Prediction & Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 31
Game Time: 11:00 ET
Venue: Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium, Seattle, Washington
Network: Fox Sports 1

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Why You Need To Care

Youthful Washington would benefit greatly from a bowl game and the 15 practices that precede it. But after being outclassed by Stanford, a second-straight loss, the Huskies are in must-win mode, especially since games with Utah and Arizona State follow. Arizona is still a win away from bowl eligibility after a rally versus Washington State fell short in Tucson. The Cats have been up-and-down all season, the one constant being an inability to handle the better opponents on the schedule.

Why Arizona Will Win

The Wildcats have multiple options behind center. The Huskies? Not enough. Arizona is averaging almost 42 points per game, in part because of Rich Rodriguez’s deft hand with mixing and matching quarterbacks Anu Solomon, the passer, and Jerrard Randall, the runner. U-Dub, meanwhile, is having all kinds of problems putting up points, a situation exacerbated by rookie QB Jake Browning’s shoulder injury.

Why Washington Will Win

Arizona’s edge on offense will be neutralized by Washington’s advantage on defense. The Huskies have been home to one of the Pac-12’s premier D’s this fall, riding the likes of LB Cory Littleton and DT Elijah Qualls to a league-low 19-point scoring average. The Wildcats, on the flipside, are struggling badly, particularly against the pass, yielding an average of 53 points in their three losses to UCLA, Stanford and Wazzu.

Player Who Matters

The Huskies really need Browning back, because K.J. Carta-Samuels won’t properly exploit the Arizona back seven. But regardless of the condition of Browning’s shoulder, Washington will continue to feed emerging RB Myles Gaskin. He’s quickly becoming a focal point of the attack, becoming the first true freshman in school history to rush for more than 100 yards in three straight games.

What’s Going To Happen?

In the clash of contrasts, defense will win out over offense Saturday night in Seattle. Back home, and motivated by a sense of urgency, Washington will flex its muscles on D to get back to the .500 mark. And Gaskin will split the Wildcats to ring up his fourth 100-yard game in a row.