Game Thread: Fight Hunger Bowl: Washington vs. BYU

[RegentDenali]

 

[RegentDenali]

TV: ESPN
Line: Washington -3.5, Over/Under: 57.5


Both BYU and Washington have some of the most fast-paced offenses in the country. Most are predicting a high scoring game. Expect both teams’ defenses to go full kitchen sink mode to attempt to slow down these offenses.

Also expect a heavy dose of ground game from both on display:

BYU is ranked 10th in the nation rushing for 274.6 yards per game and 14th in total offense with 495.3 yards, running an average of 84.5 plays per game.

Washington is ranked 14th with 243.1 rushing yards per game and eighth in total offense with 514.3 yards per game. The Huskies run an average of 79.4 plays per game.

Both teams boast veteran standouts at highly visible positions. The Huskies will be sending off fifth-year quarterback Keith Price (65.5 percent completions, 20 TDs, 5 INTs) while prominently featuring All-America tailback Bishop Sankey (1,775 yards, 18 TDs). Meanwhile, Cougars signal-caller Taysom Hill (2,645 yards passing, 1,211 rushing) emerged as one of the nation's most prolific dual-threat quarterbacks, surpassing the 100-yard rushing mark five times. BYU's showcase star, however, remains All-America linebacker Kyle Van Noy (16 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hurries), who had a monstrous performance in last year's Poinsettia Bowl. While Washington coach Steve Sarkisian's departure to USC took some of the air out of this matchup, it is still a game between two talented teams that acquitted themselves well during the regular season against rigorous schedules.

Key matchup:
BYU LB Kyle Van Noy vs. Washington RB Bishop Sankey. Sankey is one of the top running backs in the country, leading the Pac-12 and ranking third in the nation with 1,775 yards rushing this season. He will be going against one of the top linebackers in the country in Van Noy, who is third among active players with 57 solo tackles for a loss and third with 11 forced fumbles.

 

[RegentDenali]

Washington:
Head Coach: Marques Tuiasosopo (Washington’s 2013 QB coach and 2001 Rose Bowl MVP)

The Huskies averaged 514.3 yards of total offense, which was second overall in the Pac-12. The rush game averaged 243.0 yards/game and the pass game 271.3.

Keith Price threw for 2,843 yards and 20 scores as part of an offense that averaged 271.3 passing yards per game. Washington also had a solid ground game behind Bishop Sankey. The Huskies rushed for an average of 243.1 yards a game, which was ranked 14th in the nation.

Washington set school records for points (462), yards rushing (2,917) and total offense (6,172)
Washington defense held opposing teams to an average of 23.4 points a game.

Washington play makers:
Keith Price: 2843 yds, 20 TDs. (UW’s career leader in TDs and 2nd in passing yds.)

Bishop Sankey: 2013 Doak Walker award finalist. 1,775 yards and 18 scores on 216 carries.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins: By his sophomore season, had already set Washington records for a TE (110 receptions, 1,390 receiving yds, and 13 TDs. John Mackey award finalist in 2012 and won the award in 2013.

 

[The Crimson King]

Taking byu

 

[RegentDenali]

Cougars:
Head Coach: Bronco Mendenhall (2005-present. 6-2 in bowl appearances)

The Cougars have tallied 31.3 points per game behind a solid rushing attack that averaged 274.6 yards a game. Both quarterback Taysom Hill and running back Jamaal Williams rushed for over 1,200 yards while combining for 16 rushing touchdowns. Hill threw for another 2,645 yards and 19 touchdowns, but he was picked off 13 times while completing just 54.1 percent of his attempts. Four BYU receivers caught at least 23 passes, led by senior WR Cody Hoffman with 45 receptions, 727 yards and 5 TDs.

The Cougars' largely unheralded defense is tied for 12th nationally (21.3 points per game, 4.81 yards per play). Van Noy dropped off a bit as a senior but fellow linebacker Uani 'Unga (136 tackles) gets all over the field.

BYU Playmakers:

QB Taysom Hill: Ran for 1,211 yards and threw for 2,645, becoming the first BYU player to reach 1,000 yards rushing and 2,000 passing in the same season.

RB Jamaal Williams: Rushed for 1,202 yds. 6th best RB performance in BYU history.

LB Kyle Van Noy: 16 tackles for a loss, four sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

 

[tshirt]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE7H5mCrRUw

Football Gameplan's preview

 

[tshirt]

the Huskies are looking for their first nine-win season since 2000.....13 years ago

 

[WhiteMamba]

lets go FIGHTIN MORMONS!

 

[tshirt]

The Huskies lost their last two straight bowl games: a loss to Baylor in Alamo followed by a loss to Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl.

 

[tshirt]

BYU has won its last four straight bowl games

 

[TexasExes98]

the Huskies are looking for their first nine-win season since 2000.....13 years ago

 

[RobToxin]

I'm taking Washington and the over.

 

[Red_Alert]

So has Petersen been coaching Washington the last couple of weeks or has it just been Tuiasosopo still serving as the interim coach?

 

[RegentDenali]

the Huskies are looking for their first nine-win season since 2000.....13 years ago

Thank you grim reaper for these stats.

 

[Banned 10x]

So has Petersen been coaching Washington the last couple of weeks or has it just been Tuiasosopo still serving as the interim coach?

It's been all Tuiasosopo. I'm sure Peterson is 'around' though.

 

[RegentDenali]

So has Petersen been coaching Washington the last couple of weeks or has it just been Tuiasosopo still serving as the interim coach?

Tui's the interim coach for the bowl game, but been mentioned that Petersen and others have been around the practices. Probably assisting where they could and using these practice sessions to get to know the players. But Petersen won't be on the sidelines during the game, but probably will be at the bowl game because of recruiting.

 

[tshirt]

The BYU Cougars’ schedule this season featured games against 8 other bowl teams - and they went 6-2 in those contests:
W 31-14 @Utah State (Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl)
W 38-20 Georgia Tech (Music City Bowl)
W 37-20 Boise State (Hawaii Bowl)
W 47-46 @Houston (BBVA Compass Bowl)
W 37-10 MTSU (Armed Forces Bowl)
L 23-13 @Notre Dame (Pinstripe Bowl)
W 40-21 Texas (Alamo Bowl)
L 27-17 @Wisconsin (Capital One Bowl)

 

[WhiteMamba]

the Huskies are looking for their first nine-win season since 2000.....13 years ago

 

[WizardHawk]

I'm sure Petersen will be in the booth at least. How better to get a leg up on moving forward from here than to be there seeing what he has to work with first hand.

Really hard to say what to expect in this game given the distraction of the coaching changes. I'm not expecting much from UW because of it.

 

[Bamabino]

Go Huskies! Don James > Joseph Smith