:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51236695/usa-today-9578846.0.jpg)
Washington has made a habit of getting drubbed against Oregon, but that habit could end this year. The Ducks have won 12 in a row against the now-fifth-ranked Huskies, with UW's last win coming in 2003. It's really been an awfully long time.
Washington's rise this season, coupled with Oregon being 2-3 and looking more in disarray than at any time in recent years, leaves the Huskies as commanding favorites on the road this week. There's probably no such thing as an easy visiting win at Autzen Stadium, but the Huskies are never going to have a more favorable mismatch with their Pacific Northwestern neighbors than they do right now. The time is ripe for Washington to win one.
The Huskies are great, by the way. They mashed Stanford a week ago and stand an excellent chance of emerging from the Pac-12 as a Playoff participant. That's not so bad for Chris Petersen's fourth season in Seattle.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FOX. The broadcasters are Joe Davis, Brady Quinn, and Jenny Taft.
Radio: Washington and Oregon
Online streaming: Fox Sports GO
Spread: Washington opened as a 6.5-point road favorite, but that spread has grown.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation's team blog chats for this game at UW Dawg Pound and Addicted to Quack.
Three big things to know
1. Washington's doing some cool things on offense, and we discussed it. The Huskies are doing more than faking zone reads and turning them into explosive outside pitches, though. They're succeeding with all types of runs and some great throwing from sophomore quarterback Jake Browning, who's so far put up 17 touchdown passes against two interceptions. The Huskies are scoring 44 points per game.
2. The UW defense has been up to it, too. Last week, the Huskies gave the rest of the country a master class in how to stop an elite speed back, when they held Stanford's Christian McCaffrey to 49 yards on 12 carries. They didn't give up the edge to McCaffrey, didn't let him spread the defense out, and won trench battles against a powerful offensive line. Ducks running back Royce Freeman isn't the same player McCaffrey is, but that approach should still serve Washington well.
3. Oregon looks ready to make a QB change. Graduate transfer Dakota Prukop has started to this point, but it seems like Oregon's going with true freshman Justin Herbert against Washington. Washington's athletic defense won't be an easy first test for him.