Washington @ Nebraska preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 30, 2010 ) Washington 19, Nebraska 7

THE STORY: Last season, a road game in Washington thrust Taylor Martinez into early Heisman Trophy consideration and announced Nebraska’s arrival as an offensive powerhouse. However, a second meeting between the teams sent Martinez and the Huskers reeling into the offseason. Nebraska played perhaps its best game of the year in a 56-21 win in Seattle last September as Martinez accounted for 287 yards and four touchdowns. However, a crushing loss to former conference archrival Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game sent Nebraska to the Holiday Bowl, where Washington was all too eager to exact revenge. And that is precisely what the Huskies did, holding the Huskers to 189 total yards in a grinding 19-7 victory.

The Huskers and the Huskies meet for the 10th time this Saturday. The all-time series is knotted at 4-4-2.

TV: ABC/ESPN. LINE: Nebraska – 16.5

ABOUT NEBRASKA (2-0): One week after Nebraska held Chattanooga to 60 yards rushing and seven points, Fresno State gashed the vaunted Husker defense for 190 yards rushing and 29 points. That was the third-most points Nebraska has allowed in regulation since the start of the 2009 season.

ABOUT WASHINGTON (2-0): The Huskies are off to their first 2-0 start since 2007 and looking to go 3-0 for the first time since 2001. So far, the Washington offense has been dynamic. Junior RB Chris Polk ranks 20th nationally with 232 rushing yards, while sophomore QB Keith Price is tied for the lead nationally with seven TD passes.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Washington and Nebraska are meeting for the third time in two seasons – the sixth time since 1997 that two teams from different conferences have done so.

2. Martinez has gone over 100 yards rushing in seven of his 14 career games and has 15 runs of 30 yards or longer.

3. Washington’s current six-game win streak is tied with Oklahoma and Central Florida for the fourth-longest active streak in the nation.

PREDICTION: Nebraska 41, Washington 24 – The Huskers’ inability to get their offense going early could bite them at some point, but probably not this week at home in a revenge game.