GAME: Washington (1-0 overall, 0-0 Pac-12) at Louisiana State (1-0 overall, 0-0 Southeastern Conference). WHEN: Saturday, 4 p.m. PT, Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA. MEETING: 3rd (LSU leads 2-0). COACHES: Les Miles, LSU; Steve Sarkisian, Washington. RANKINGS: LSU No. 3 AP, No. 3 USA Today Coaches; UW unranked. LINE: LSU by 23 1/2. TV: ESPN. RADIO: KJR-950 AM, 102.9 FM
Oddsmakers have installed the Louisiana State Tigers as a 23 1/2-point favorite over the Washington Huskies Saturday night, and the amazement is that the nation’s No. 3 team (both polls) is only a three-touchdown pick. Given the following numbers, a five-touchdown spread, maybe even six, seems more appropriate.
A 41-14 winner over North Texas State last week, LSU has won 38 consecutive non-conference games, the best streak in the nation, and that’s just for openers.
- The 38-game, non-conference, regular-season winning streak is the second-longest (28-0 under head coach Les Miles) in the FBS era (since 1978) and is one win shy of matching Kansas State’s streak of 39 in a row from 1993-03.
- The Tigers havent lost a non-conference, regular-season game since falling to Virginia Tech 26-8 in the 2002 season opener in Blacksburg, VA.
- During the 38-game streak, the Tigers have outscored their opponents 1,204-250 and have held opponents to less than 10 points 25 times.
- The Tigers have won 18 consecutive home games, the longest such streak in the nation and one shy of the school record.
- The Tigers won 15 of those 18 by double digits.
- LSU is 44-6 in Tiger Stadium under Miles (hasn’t lost at home since a 13-3 setback to No. 1 Florida Oct. 10, 2009) and 21-4 all-time against members of the Pac-12, including 4-0 under Miles.
- LSU is 45-4 vs. unranked teams under Miles.
- Tigers are 53-5 in night games and 56-5 on Saturday night since 2000 (31-1 under Miles).
- Tigers have a 22-game winning streak in September.
- Tigers are 27-2 when they have a running back exceed 100 yards. Last week, two backs, Kenny Hilliard and Alfred Blue, went over 100 yards.
- 61 players on the LSU roster have never lost a game.
- LSU has 10 players on various watch lists, including three on the Outland Trophy, three on the Bednarik Award, three on the Bronko Nagurski Award and two each on the Lombardi and Ted Hendricks awards.
- Huskies are 0-2 vs. LSU and 2-9 against members of the Southeastern Conference and haven’t beaten an SEC team since pummeling Florida 34-7 in the 1989 Freedom Bowl.
- National media outlets have named Tiger Stadium the toughest place to play a road game five times.
In addition, the Baton Rouge forecast Saturday night is for temperatures in the high 80s and near-tropical humidity. Plus a chance of thunderstorms. Washington probably should have scheduled Idaho this week. But Steve Sarkisian‘s Huskies, who eked out a 21-12 victory over San Diego State in their season opener, have other problems.
The Huskies will not have running back Jesse Callier and right tackle Ben Riva, injured against San Diego State. Callier suffered a non-contact injury when his knee buckled, and is out for the season with a torn ACL.
“Oh, man, that’s big,” Sarkisian said of Callier’s ACL tear. “Jesse is so versatile to our offense.”
Bishop Sankey, a sophomore from Spokane who rushed for 66 yards and a short touchdown against the Aztecs, will receive most of the carries against LSU.
“Obviously, we’re going to find out more about Bishop Sankey in a hurry,” Sarkisian said, adding that Erich Wilson II, Willis Wilson and Dezden Petty will also get touches.
Riva’s broken forearm, which will keep him out four-to-six weeks, means that James Atoe, a 6-foot-6, 333-pound redshirt sophomore from The Dalles, OR., is likely to make his first career start Saturday night.
SERIES: Dates to Sept. 24, 1983, when No. 9 Washington traveled to Baton R0uge and lost to LSU 40-14 in front of 82,390. LSU’s “Dalton-James” gang (Dalton Hilliard and Garry James) combined to rush for 226 yards. Jacque Robinson and Steve Pelluer scored UW’s touchdowns. The teams last met in the opening game of the 2009 season (first game of the Sarkisian era) when LSU pulled away for a 31-23 win at Husky Stadium. Washington’s Jake Locker passed for 321 yards and two scores.
UW HEAD COACH: Steve Sarkisian (20-19-0) is in his fourth season as head coach of the Huskies. After producing a 5-7 record in his first year (2009), Sarkisian guided the Huskies to a 7-6 record in 2010, which ended with a 19-7 victory over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. That marked Washington’s first postseason game since the 2002 Sun Bowl. Sarkisian coached the Huskies to another 7-6 record in 2011 and a berth opposite Baylor in the Alamo Bowl. Prior to joining the Huskies, Sarkisian served as a USC assistant under Pete Carroll (2001-03, 2005-08). He also worked as an Oakland Raiders assistant in 2004. Sarkisian played quarterback at Brigham Young University and later played in the Canadian Football League.
UW STATS / NOTES
- SEASON SUMMARY: Record: 1-0. Home: 1-0. Road: 0-0. Neutral: 0-0. Vs. Pac-12: 0-0. Vs. Pac-12 North: 0-0. Vs. Pac-12 South: 0-0. Vs. Non-Conference: 1-0. Points For: 21 (21.0). Rushing Yards Per Game: 106.0. Passing Yards Per Game: 222.0. Total Offense Per Game: 328.0. Points Against: 12 (12.0). Opp. Rushing Yards Per Game: 199.0. Opp. Passing Yards Per Game: 128.0. Total Defense Per Game: 327.0.
- PAC-12 RANKS: Scoring Offense — 8th (21.0); Scoring Defense — 5th (12.0); Total Offense — 8th (328.0); Total Defense — 7th (327.0); Rushing Offense — 8th (106.0); Rushing Defense — 19th (199.0); Passing Offense — 8th (222.0); Pass Defense — 3rd (79.0); Passing Efficiency — 7th (134.1).
- UW has played five of the 14 current SEC teams. In 11 meetings, three were in bowl games and three others were vs. Texas A&M prior to the Aggies moving to a new conference. In the 11, Huskies are 2-9. Breakdown: 0-4 vs. Alabama; 1-0 vs. Florida; 0-1 vs. Mississippi State; 0-2 vs. LSU; 1-2 vs. Texas A&M.
- A total of 16 players made their UW debut vs. San Diego State, including starters Travis Feeney, Tre Watson, Shaq Thompson and Jaydon Mickens.
- UW used six true freshmen in the season-opener: Thompson, Mickens, LS Ryan Masel, WR Kendyl Taylor, DE Pio Vatuvei and TB Erich Wilson II.
- Sophomore TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins established a career-high with nine receptions vs. SDSU (had five vs. Stanford in 2011).
- Quarterback Keith Price set a career high for completions with 25 (had 21 at Nebraska in 2011). In one stretch, Price completed 13 in a row. Price had an efficiency rating of 134.1 vs. SDSU. He finished 2011 with a rating of 161.09.
- Price’s 25 completions were the most by a UW quarterback since Jake Locker completed 25 against LSU in 2009.
- Twelve points allowed by the UW defense against SDSU were the fewest since the 2010 Holiday Bowl allowed seven to Nebraska in a 19-7 win.
- In addition to RB Jesse Callier, DE Hau’oll Jamora will also miss the season with an ACL injury.
- Sarkisian said late in the week that every player on the depth chart for this week’s game is good to go.
- Washington received 15 votes in the latest Associated Press poll, making the Huskies No. 32 in the country.
- Huskies arrived in Baton Rouge Thursday.
WASHINGTON TWO DEEPS
Offense
WR: KASEN WILLIAMS, Cody Bruns; LT: MICAH HATCHIE, Dexter Charles; LG: COLIN TANIGAWA, Dexter Charles; C: DREW SCHAEFER, Erik Kohler; RG: ERIK KOHLER OR JAMES ATOE; RT: MIKE CHRISTE OR ERIK KOHLER; TE: AUSTIN-SEFERIAN-JENKINS, Michael Hartvigson; QB: KEITH PRICE, Derrick Brown; TB: BISHOP SANKEY, Erich Wilson; FB: JONATHAN AMOSA, Cole Sager; WR: JAYDON MICKENS, Kevin Smith; WR: KENDYL TAYLOR, DiAndre Campbell.
Defense
DE: TALIA CRICHTON, Pio Vatuvei; NT: DANNY SHELTON, Semisi Tokolahi; DE: ANDREW HUDSON, Semisi Tokolahi; R: JOSH SHIRLEY, Connor Cree; LB: TRAVIS FEENEY, Princeton Fuimaono; LB: JOHN TIMU, Thomas Tutogi; LB: PRINCETON FUIMAONO, Taz Stevenson; NI: SHAQ THOMPSON, Sean Parker; S: WILL SHAMBURGER OR JUSTIN GLENN; S: SEAN PARKER, Anthony Gobern; CB: DESMOND TRUFANT, Marcus Peters; CB: TRE WATSON, Gregory Ducre.
Specialists
PK: TRAVIS COONS; P: KOREY DURKEE; KR: JAYDON MICKENS, Shaq Thompson, Jesse Callier, Kevin Smith. PR: KASEN WILLIAMS, Jaydon Mickens. LS: RYAN MASEL; HLD: CODY BRUNS.
HUSKIES OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Rushing
| Player | G | Att. | Yards | TDs | Long | Y/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Sankey | 1 | 22 | 66 | 1 | 20 | 66.0 |
| Erich Wilson | 1 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 17 | 22.0 |
| Keith Price | 1 | 6 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 17.0 |
| Willis Wilson | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Total | 1 | 31 | 106 | 1 | 20 | 106.0 |
| Opponents | 1 | 40 | 199 | 1 | 32 | 199.0 |
Passing
| Player | G | Att. | Cmp. | Yards | TDs/INT | Effic. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Price | 1 | 35 | 25 | 222 | 1 /0 | 134.1 |
| Total | 1 | 35 | 25 | 222 | 1 /0 | 134.1 |
| Opponents | 1 | 19 | 10 | 128 | 1 /1 | 116.-6 |
Receiving
| Player | G | Rec. | Yards | TD | Long | Y/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Seferian-Jenkins | 1 | 9 | 82 | 0 | 20 | 82.0 |
| Kasen Williams | 1 | 6 | 75 | 1 | 20 | 75.0 |
| Kevin Smith | 1 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 13 | 20.0 |
| Jaydon Mickens | 1 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 12 | 16.0 |
| Jesse Callier | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 8.0 |
| Jonathan Amosa | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 10.0 |
| Kendyl Taylor | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6.0 |
| M. Hartvigson | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5.0 |
| Bishop Sankey | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Totals | 1 | 25 | 222 | 1 | 20 | 222.2 |
| Opponents | 1 | 10 | 128 | 1 | 47 | 128.0 |
HUSKIES DEFENSIVE LEADERS
| Category | Skinny |
|---|---|
| Tackles | Parker 8, Timu 6, Trufant 6, Feeney 5 |
| Sacks | Trufant, Feeney, Shirley, Hudson, 1 |
| Interceptions | Watson 1 |
| Passes Defensed | Watson 1 |
| Forced Fumbles | Feeney, Fuimaono, 1 |
| Fumbles Recovered | None |
LOUISIANA STATE: With its 41-14 win over North Texas, LSU has won 15 consecutive games by double digits . . . Tigers have scored 40 or more points in 11 of those wins . . . Junior QB Zach Mettenberger connected on 19 of 26 passes for 192 yards and a TD in his first career start last week as the Tigers rolled up 508 yards of total offense . . . Sophomore Kenny Hilliard rushed for a career-best 141 yards and two TDs, while junior Alfred Blue accounted for 123 on the ground. It marked the first time that LSU had two backs go over the 100-yard mark in a season-opener since the 1982 against Oregon State (Dalton Hilliard, Kenny’s father, 133 yards; Garry James, 128 yards) . . . Sophomore WR Jarvis Landry hauled in a career-best eight passes for 82 yards in the opener, while sophomore WR Odell Beckham Jr. returned a punt 70 yards for a TD and caught three passes for 30 yards. Defensively, junior FS Eric Reid the Tigers with seven tackles as LSU limited North Texas to 219 total yards (143 passing, 76 rushing) . . . LSU has scored 18 special teams TDs under Miles (10 punt returns, three kickoff returns, two returns of a blocked field goal, one return of a fumbled punt, one return of a blocked punt, and one fake field goal).
HEAD COACH Les Miles (103-39, 76-18, LSU): Miles has guided the program to its most successful stretch in the school’s history. With 76 victories, two SEC titles and two appearances in the BCS National Championship Game, LSU’s success since the start of the 2005 season is unmatched in college football. LSU’s 76 victories over the past seven years are the most by a team in the nation’s toughest conference — the SEC — during that span. Miles was named national Coach of the Year by AP in 2011. Miles coached at Oklahoma State prior to taking the LSU job.
COMING UP: Huskies return to CenturyLink Field for their next two games. UW will host Portland State Sept. 15 (FX TV) and Stanford Thursday, Sept. 27 (ESPN).
University of Washington 2012 Schedule/Results
| Date | Opponent | UW Rnk | Opp Rnk | W/L | Score | Rec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/1/12 | vs. SD State | — | — | W | 21-12 | 1-0 |
| 9/8/12 | at LSU | — | 3 | — | — | — |
| 9/15/12 | vs. Port. State | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9/27/12 | vs. Stanford | — | 25 | — | — | — |
| 10/6/12 | at Oregon | — | 4 | — | — | — |
| 10/13/12 | vs. USC | — | 2 | — | — | — |
| 10/20/12 | at Arizona | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10/27/12 | vs. OSU | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11/2/12 | at California | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11/10/12 | vs. Utah | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11/17/12 | at Colorado | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11/23/12 | at WSU | — | — | — | — | — |
2012 RECAPS
UW 21, San Diego State 12 (Sept. 1): Keith Price completed 25 of 35 passes for 222 yards and an eight-yard TD to Kasen Williams, and Will Shamburger returned a fumble 44 yards to a touchdown as Washington defeated San Diego State in front of 53,742 at CenturyLink Field. The UW defense, maligned throughout the 2011 season, gave up 199 rushing yards but just 128 passing yards, recovered two fumbles, had three sacks and an interception.