Sunday at 1 PM, the Huskies walk into the Apple Cup favored by a massive 23.5 points against Washington State, and everyone expects them to roll. But Wazzu’s got a few tricks up their sleeve that could make things a lot tighter than that line suggests, especially if their redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Pinnick lives up to one remarkable stat. This isn’t just about the rivalry, it’s about whether the Cougs can actually pull off the upset on NBC and 920-AM.
The Trenches: WSU’s Secret Weapon on D?
If WSU wants to keep this game close, it all comes down to the big fellas up front. The key matchup to watch is the Cougars’ defensive ends, Matyus McLain and Linus Zunk, going head-to-head with UW offensive tackles Kodi Greene and Drew Azzopardi. McLain, a transfer from Idaho, and Zunk, who came from Vanderbilt, apparently exploded during spring ball and fall camp. They’ve got the size and athleticism to generate real pass rush. But here’s the thing: practicing against your own guys isn’t the same as facing Greene, a five-star true freshman, or Azzopardi, a fifth-year senior with 33 career college games under his belt. If McLain and Zunk can get consistent pressure on Washington QB Demond Williams Jr., they could totally disrupt him and force a turnover or two, which would swing the game. If they can’t, it’s gonna be a long day for that WSU defense, no matter how good they looked in fall camp.
Pinnick’s Redemption Story and The Cougs’ Ground Game
On offense, WSU’s game plan needs to get the running game going with Kirby Vorhees and Maxwell Woods. Why? Two big reasons: it keeps the clock ticking, keeping the ball away from our potent Husky offense, and it takes the heat off WSU QB Caden Pinnick. Remember Pinnick? He had a nightmare start at Husky Stadium last season playing for UC Davis, completing only 8 of 16 passes for 50 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Now, he’s got a much more talented supporting cast at WSU, but walking into Husky Stadium as a redshirt sophomore against a killer UW defense is a tall ask. If their offensive line can push up front and create meaningful production for the running backs, Pinnick won’t feel like he has to make superstar plays and force things early. And get this: last season at UC Davis, Pinnick had an 87.1 Pro Football Focus passing grade against the blitz. That’s a remarkable number! The UW defense is absolutely going to test that.
Our Huskies’ Defense Is Ready For It
Our Huskies can win this game in so many ways, but the likeliest path is through our defense, giving Pinnick a rude welcome to his Cougar tenure. WSU’s offense had more than its share of shaky moments during fall camp, and while they might clean it up, that’s not a promising sign heading into a game against a UW defense bringing back 11 starters. Defensive coordinator Ryan Walters’ 4-2-5 scheme is legit. Our linebacker trio of Jacob Manu, Xe’ree Alexander, and Zaydrius Rainey-Sale could become one of the nation’s premier units, especially with former Cougar Buddah Al-Uqdah sprinkled in there. Plus, Pinnick will have to keep a close eye on safety Alex McLaughlin, who snagged two picks in last year’s Apple Cup.
So, while our Huskies are heavily favored, WSU’s hope rests on their defensive ends causing chaos, their run game taking pressure off Pinnick, and Pinnick himself tapping into that surprisingly strong performance against the blitz. It’s the Apple Cup, anything can happen, and you know we’ll be glued to NBC at 1 PM on Sunday! Go Dawgs!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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