The 17th-ranked Washington Huskies are preparing to host their in-state rivals, the Washington State Cougars, in the annual Apple Cup showdown at Husky Stadium on Sunday.
Kickoff for the highly anticipated Week 1 matchup is scheduled for 4 p.m. Eastern Time in Seattle.
The Huskies dominate the overall series against the Cougars with a 77-34-6 record and have won 10 of the last 12 matchups, including a dominant 59-24 victory last season.
Washington tied for seventh place in the Big Ten last year with a 5-4 conference record and finished 9-4 overall.
Meanwhile, Washington State finished 7-6 overall last year and is set to compete in a revamped Pac-12 conference this season.
The Huskies enter Sunday’s game as heavy 23.5-point favorites, with the over/under for total points set at 51.5.
SportsLine college football expert Tom Fornelli, who is on a 16-5 run with his betting picks involving Washington games, has locked in his predictions for the matchup.
Describing the contrasting situations of the two programs, Fornelli remarked that the teams enter the contest as “polar opposites” since Washington brings back its starting signal-caller while Washington State undergoes a complete roster overhaul.
Junior quarterback Demond Williams Jr. leads the Huskies’ offense after completing 69.5 percent of his passes for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns last season.
Williams also contributed significantly on the ground last year, rushing for 611 yards and six touchdowns.
Jordan Washington is the top returning running back for the Huskies, having recorded 233 rushing yards and one touchdown last season.
The Cougars are undergoing a major transition with new head coach Kirby Moore and a roster that features mostly new players.
Sophomore quarterback Caden Pinnick, a transfer from UC Davis, will lead Washington State after throwing for 3,206 yards and 32 touchdowns last year.
Pinnick also rushed for 437 yards and three scores last season.
Junior running back Kirby Vorhees represents the Cougars’ top returning threat on the ground after rushing for 576 yards and five touchdowns last year.