BYU is a 17-5-point road underdog against No. 11 Washington Saturday, but a double-digit spread won’t deter the Cougars. Kalani Sitake’s team was a 23.5-point dog when it rolled into Camp Randall Stadium and stunned then-No. 6 Wisconsin 24-21 two weeks ago. They’ll have to be equally stingy to escape the state of Washington with with another big win over a College Football Playoff contender.
BYU vs. Washington 2018 live stream: Time, TV channel, and prediction
Do the Cougars have another big upset in them?
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The Huskies have rebounded from a season-opening loss to Auburn, first by dispatching FCS North Dakota and then by taking control of the Pac-12 North with wins over Utah and a sneaky-good Arizona State team. Losing to a resurgent BYU program wouldn’t affect their shot at a conference title, but any loss from here on out could be the death knell that signals their disqualification from playoff consideration.
Time, TV channel, and streaming info
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: FOX Sports Go, fuboTV
- Odds: Washington is favored by 17.5 points.
BYU vs. Washington news:
- Jake Browning stepped up in the pocket, handled pressure well, and answered questions about his 2018 performance in last week’s win.
The most encouraging aspect of his performance was his ability to climb up into the pocket to extend the play. That is a skill that many Huskies fans have wanted to see Browning improve, and he did a great job of it on Saturday. A tip of the hat also needs to go to the Huskies offensive line. The unit responded well after a rather poor outing last week, as they gave Browning plenty of time in the pocket all game. They also did a great job of picking up ASU’s blitzes and pressures throughout the game. The Sun Devils defense is far from the best unit the Huskies will see all year, but it is still encouraging that the offensive line seemed to improve significantly in just one week.
- BYU started slow against McNeese State — a mistake it can’t afford to make in Seattle.
- The Huskies’ passing defense is in great shape to make Tanner Mangum’s weekend miserable.
- But that Washington secondary is going to have to deal with a shaken-up BYU depth chart at wide receiver.
Can Squally Canada carry the Cougars to another win?
BYU is 2-1 in games against FBS opponents this fall. That’s 2-0 when Canada finds the end zone, and 0-1 when he doesn’t.
His status as the team’s offensive engine was on full display against Wisconsin. With quarterback Mangum struggling, Canada put the team on his shoulders in a 118-yard, two-TD performance.
But when he gets stuck in neutral, the Cougars languish. He had just 49 rushing yards in a Week 2 loss to California where his team was held to only 18 points. On Saturday, he’ll face a good, but not great rushing defense; the Huskies have allowed opponents to rush for four yards per carry so far in 2018.
BYU vs. Washington prediction:
The preseason S&P+ ratings saw this one as a 27.5-point loss for the Cougars — and it also predicted a 21-point defeat at the hands of the Badgers. With BYU exceeding expectations, this game should be closer than expected, but Sitake won’t be sneaking up on anyone this time. Expect Washington to take care of business despite a spirited fight from the visiting team.
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