Washington Huskies: Game 4 vs. Stanford Cardinal – injuries, weather, odds, and more
The 2020 season continues as the Washington Huskies host Pac-12 North rivals the Stanford Cardinal. Pacific Northwest Sports has all you need to know.
PNWS presents what you need to know to enjoy Game 4 of the Washington Huskies 2020 football season as they host the Stanford Cardinal. UW fans won’t be able to attend the game due to COVID-19 restrictions. Instead, the Huskies faithful will watch their team play on television. We have all the information you need.
Who: Stanford Cardinal (1-2) at Washington Huskies (3-0)
Where: Husky Stadium – Seattle, Washington.
When: Saturday, December 5, 2020 – 1:00 p.m. PST.
TV: ABC. Announcers: Joe Davis and Mark Helfrich
Weather: The forecast calls for sunny skies, temperatures in the low 50’s and little-to-no wind. (weather.com).
Line: Washington -11.5. Over/Under: 49.5 (Odds Shark).
Injuries: Washington – It’s head coach Jimmy Lake’s policy not to publicly discuss who may or may not play due to either an injury or COVID-19. It’s important to note that outside linebacker Ryan Bowman missed last week’s game against Utah. Freshman Sav’ell Smalls did a nice job filling in for Bowman. Stanford Out – RB Dorian Maddox, LB Jacob Mangum-Farrar, LB Ricky Miezan, LB Tristan Sinclair, and CB Nicolas Toomer (all undisclosed).
Interesting Trends: Washington is red hot at Husky Stadium, going 21-2 in their last 23 home games. They have also won five of their last seven straight up. The total has gone under in six of UW’s last seven games, including five of six against PAC-12 teams. Stanford has lost six of their seven games straight up, and they didn’t cover the point spread in any of them. They have also lost five straight road games.
Last Game
Washington 24 – Utah 21
Utah dominated the Washington Huskies in the first half. After a game-opening possession fumble, the Utes scored on three of the next four times they had the football. UW did very little right in the half and looked largely outclassed. Fortunately, there was a big turnaround after the break.
Lake must have given one heck of a halftime speech because Washington was a different team after the break. On their first possession of the third quarter, UW drove 72-yards in under three minutes, highlighted by a 38-yard pass play from Dylan Morris to Terrell Bynum. That was the start. Washington’s offense scored on all three of their possessions in the quarter.
Both squads bogged down in the fourth. Washington, however, put together the drive of the game as time wound down. The Huskies went 88 yards in 12 plays, capped off by a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cade Otton. That gave Washington a 24–21 lead with 36 seconds left in the game.
Stanford 24 – California 23
Stanford got their first win of the season in dramatic fashion. This game went back and forth with each team trading touchdowns. Cal scored what looked to be a game-tying touchdown as time expired. The Cardinal however blocked the ensuing extra point to get out of Berkeley with a 24-23 win. This game was a perfect example of it doesn’t always have to be pretty to get the job done.
Austin Jones led the Cardinal with 85 rushing yards while receiver Michael Wilson pulled in seven passes for 88 yards. Each scored a touchdown. Quarterback Davis Mills was 24-of-36 for 205 yards.
Outlook
Due to COVID-19 restrictions in Santa Clara County, California, this week’s game against Stanford will take place at Husky Stadium. Last week, the Huskies showed what a total team effort looked like during their second-half comeback. Stanford can expect to see more of the same.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Morris becomes more comfortable with the offense every week. He’s found a go-to receiver in Otton. The Huskies four-headed monster backfield runs behind a behemoth offensive line.
Let’s not forget the Huskies defense. Thinking about Zion Tupuola-Fetui is the kind of player that keeps quarterbacks awake at night. ZTF lead the Pac-12-with seven sacks. If somehow Stanford QB Davis Mills does get time in the pocket, he still has to find a way to beat one of the country’s best secondaries.
Catch up with PNWS on Sunday when we present our biggest takeaways from the game.