Oregon @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 6, 2010 ) Washington 16, Oregon 53

THE STORY: While Washington turned heads with a 5-1 start, the Huskies came crashing back to Earth in their biggest game of the season, a humiliating 65-21 loss at Stanford. Keith Price and Washington have another shot to prove their mettle when they face No. 6 Oregon in the final game at Husky Stadium. The Ducks have won the last seven games in the series, most of them one-sided affairs.

TV: ROOT Sports, FSN. LINE: Oregon -16.5.

ABOUT OREGON (7-1, 5-0 Pac-12 North): Running back LaMichael James returned after missing two-plus games with an elbow injury and had 55 yards in the Ducks' 43-28 victory over Washington State last week. James has rushed for 905 yards this season as Oregon is ranked fifth in the nation in total offense and fourth in rushing, averaging 309 yards. Oregon is scoring 47.5 points per game. The Ducks are expected to be without suspended All-American cornerback Cliff Harris, who also missed last week's game because of a major automobile infraction. Darron Thomas leads the Ducks with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. Oregon can’t afford to look past this game as it plays No. 3 Stanford next week.

ABOUT WASHINGTON (6-2, 4-1): The Huskies are 5-0 at home on the season and would like to close out Husky Stadium with a huge victory before it undergoes major renovations. A number of ceremonies are planned but emotions aside, it will still come down to whether the Huskies’ defense can find a way to slow down the Ducks. Washington is ranked 117th in the nation against the pass and 96th in total defense. Those aren’t good numbers, especially when facing an explosive team such as Oregon. Washington needs to control the time of the possession with running back Chris Polk, who has already topped the 1,000-yard mark and scored a dozen touchdowns.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Oregon’s only loss is to top-ranked LSU in the first game of the season.

2. The favorite is 9-1-1 in the 11 games of the series.

3. Washington has won 10 of its last 12 games.

PREDICTION: Oregon 45, Washington 30 - The spread should be about the only thing in jeopardy in this one as the Ducks’ offense is too good to be shut down by a porous Huskies' defense.