Two top-16 teams will fight to claim the state of Washington and maybe even a College Football Playoff invitation. So it’s fair to ask; is this the most important Apple Cup of all time?
Apple Cup 2018 live stream: Washington vs. Washington State time, TV schedule, and how to watch online
The Huskies have to stop Gardner Minshew to have a chance in Pullman.
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
No. 7 Washington State will play host to No. 16 Washington in Friday’s most important rivalry game. For the Cougars, it’s not just a chance to snap the Huskies’ five-game winning streak against their in-state rival, but also an opportunity to prove they belong when the CFP unveils its final four teams in two weeks. A three-loss Washington squad doesn’t have the same stakes at hand, but ruining Mike Leach’s title aspirations would serve to make nearly everyone in Seattle’s holidays a bit brighter.
Oh, and the winner claims the Pac-12 North title and a spot in the conference championship game, too.
In the annals of all-time great Apple Cups, 2018 could be the biggest. But will it live up to the hype?
Washington vs. Washington State prediction:
The S&P+ ratings see Washington State as the nation’s No. 20 team. But they clock the underdog Huskies at No. 10. Factor in the universe’s cold indifference to Mike Leach’s happiness and achievement, and you’ve got all the makings of a Washington win Saturday evening.
Time, TV channel, and streaming info
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: FOXSportsGO, fuboTV
- Odds: Washington State is favored by 2.5 points.
Washington vs. Washington State news:
- One major point of concern for Washington; State throws the hell out of the ball, but has the nation’s lowest sack rate.
- Of course Gardner Minshew’s got his own, mustache-glorifying song now.
- Friday’s winner gets Utah for the Pac-12 title. Yeah, it’s been a weird year on the west coast.
- Minshew had as many touchdown passes as incompletions in the first half last week against Arizona. He’s OK I guess.
Can Gardner Minshew earn an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony?
Minshew is an extremely Mike Leach quarterback, and as such he’s absolutely lit up the skies with his passing this fall. He leads the FBS in passing yards (by nearly 500 yards!) and is tied for the national lead in passing touchdowns thanks to a cannon arm that’s averaged nearly 400 yards per game. But he’s not just a volume thrower — he’s completed a career-high 70.4% of his passes for an efficient 7.5 yards per attempt along the way.
He’s probably not going to win the Heisman — Tua Tagovailoa has that award pretty much wrapped up — but he can earn a spot among the finalists with another big game Friday night.
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