Seattle Times: Capsule Preview | Washington vs. No. 11 California

 

At stake: Huskies looking for what would be one of their bigger upsets to take a step closer to a winning season and a bowl game. Cal searching for its seventh straight win to stay atop the Pac-10 race and in the running for a BCS bowl.

What to expect: All eyes will be on UW quarterback Carl Bonnell, replacing the injured Isaiah Stanback. It is Bonnell's third career start and first since October 2004. Huskies may throw more intermediate passes to take advantage of Bonnell's accuracy and also may try to run more out of their two-back offense to take pressure off Bonnell.  And if Bonnell struggles or gets hurt, UW may turn to true freshman Jake Locker. Offensively, Golden Bears like to look for the big play, and UW gave up three of 40 yards or longer last week against Oregon State. Cal thrives on starting fast, outscoring foes 91-27 in the first quarter and 101-50 in the second.

12:30 p.m. today at Memorial Stadium

TV: FSN Radio: KJR (950 AM) The line: Cal by 23 ½

Notes: After losing 29 straight to UW from 1977-2001, the Bears have won the last four, and have beaten the Huskies an average of 51-12 in the last three. ... Last time UW traveled to Cal, in 2003, it lost 54-7 and allowed a school-record 729 yards. ... Huskies haven't lost a turnover in the last two games. Cal has forced 18, the most in the Pac-10.

Injuries: UW — QB Isaiah Stanback (foot) out, LB Trenton Tuiasosopo (hand) questionable, CB Dashon Goldson (ankle), S C.J. Wallace (knee), LB E.J. Savannah (hand) probable.

Cal — RG Norris Malele (leg), DE Nu'u Tafisi (leg), S Thomas DeCoud (knee), RT Scott Smith (knee) probable.

Prediction: This was a bad matchup for the Huskies even before the loss of Stanback. Cal has the most balance offensively in the conference, and the Huskies are coming off their worst defensive game of the season. Realistically, Huskies are just trying to keep this one respectable. Cal 35, Washington 17.