First look: WSU at UW

Time: 12:15 p.m. Saturday. TV: FSN

The records: WSU, 3-7, 0-7 Pac-10; Washington, 2-8, 1-6 Pac-10.

Last week: WSU lost to Oregon 34-31; Washington won at Arizona 38-14.

Last time: WSU beat Washington 28-25 in Pullman on Nov. 20, 2004.

What it means for WSU: It will be an embarrassment of massive proportions for this team to finish the season 0-8 in the conference with a loss to its less-talented archrival. Winning a game in Husky Stadium for just the second time since 1985 wouldn’t hurt the ego, either. The Cougars are talking about the springboard this game could provide – although last year’s Apple Cup win clearly had little effect – but it can’t be argued that WSU could use some sort of pick-me-up before entering what will certainly be a long winter in Pullman.

What it means for Washington: A win this week would bury the Cougars, and there’s little more that could be better for the Huskies. New head coach Tyrone Willingham, having gotten his first Pac-10 win at Washington last Saturday, would have to feel much better going into the off-season with back-to-back wins under his belt. The Huskies have long dominated this series and wouldn’t much like to see two consecutive sub-.500 Cougars teams beat them, especially with this one at home. This is a team that will be under pressure to show improvement next season, but winning this game will give it something to point to as a sign of progress all the way to next September.

Washington’s best: Willingham is in his first season as the Huskies head coach after spending three years at Notre Dame and six years before that at Stanford in the same capacity… . Isaiah Stanback has started every game at quarterback this season after leading a late-game charge in last year’s Apple Cup. Stanback has completed 55 percent of his throws this year, but has just eight touchdown passes to go with six interceptions in Willingham’s West Coast offense… . Running back James Sims nearly doubled his season-long rushing total with 200 yards on 30 carries last week against Arizona… . Craig Chambers leads the Huskies in receiving yardage with 556 and touchdown catches with five… . Outside linebacker Evan Benjamin was named Pac-10 defensive player of the week with 10 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception in last week’s win… . Manase Hopoi, a senior defensive tackle, has started 46 games and needs just three tackles for loss to tie a Washington school record.

The numbers: WSU has won back-to-back Apple Cups just six times. … Washington has scored first in 7 of 10 games this season. … The Huskies and Cougars are ninth and 10th in the Pac-10 in scoring defense at 31.1 and 32.4 points a game.

Glenn Kasses