Arizona @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 23, 2010 ) Washington 14, Arizona 44

THE STORY: Washington looks to rebound from a horrifying loss and Arizona seeks to follow up its top performance of the season when the two squads meet. The Huskies were brutally beaten 65-21 by Stanford for their first conference loss of the season but remain a part of the Pac-12 North race. The Wildcats put a 48-12 whipping on UCLA in their first contest since interim coach Tim Kish replaced fired Mike Stoops. Washington is 4-0 at home this season; Arizona is 0-3 on the road.

TV: FSN, ROOT. LINE: Washington -4.

ABOUT WASHINGTON (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12 North): The Huskies allowed their highest point total of the season and scored a season low in the loss to Stanford. Washington has allowed 116 points in two losses - the other was 51-38 to Nebraska. Sophomore quarterback Keith Price is fourth nationally with 22 touchdown passes and has completed 68.5 percent of his passes. Junior Chris Polk is 128 yards away from joining Napoleon Kaufman (1992-94) as the only Washington running backs with three straight 1,000-yard campaigns. Polk has six 100-yard games this season and shares the school career record of 17 with Kaufman. The Huskies are next-to-last in the Pac-12 in pass defense at 284.4 yards per game.

ABOUT ARIZONA (2-5, 1-4 Pac-12 South): The Wildcats snapped a five-game skid last week. It was the third time this season Arizona scored 41 or more points in a game. Senior quarterback Nick Foles ranks fourth in passing yards per game (363.7) and has thrown 18 touchdown passes to go with a 70.9 completion rate. Senior receiver Juron Criner had three touchdown receptions against UCLA to raise his career total to 27, second in school history behind Theopolis Bell (30 from 1972-75). Sophomore cornerback Shaquille Richardson (team-leading three interceptions) is serving a suspension for being ejected for fighting against the Bruins. Redshirt freshman safety Jourdon Grandon will also the miss the game while senior cornerback Lyle Brown and junior safety Mark Watley will each miss one half because of their involvements.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Washington leads the series 17-9-1 but Arizona won last year 44-14.

2. The Huskies rank 104th in scoring defense (33.7) and Arizona ranks 105th (33.9).

3. The Wildcats are tied for last in the nation with five sacks.

PREDICTION: Washington 48, Arizona 35 - Price and Foles engage in a shootout as the Huskies keep their perfect home record intact.