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First look

Time: Noon (PST) Saturday. TV: FSN

The records: WSU 1-10, 0-8 in Pac-10; Washington 0-11, 0-7

Last week: Washington lost to UCLA, 27-7

WSU lost to Arizona State, 31-0

Last time: WSU defeated UW, 42-35, in Seattle last season.

The line: Washington by 7.5

What it means for WSU

Respectability. Redemption. Revitalization. And, baring all that, it at least gives the Cougars a chance to wash the season’s bad taste out of their mouths. Winning the Apple Cup can do that. The first Apple Cup in the Paul Wulff era also holds the promise of helping Wulff cement recruiting efforts with the best in-state high school seniors, some of whom are waiting to see who the UW’s next coach will be. And, finally, it means trash-talking rights for the winners in their off-season encounters with the losers.

What it means for Washington

Respectability. Redemption. Revitalization. And, baring all that, it at least gives the Huskies a chance to wash the season’s bad taste out of their mouths. Winning the Apple Cup can do that. With coach Tyrone Willingham out at the end of the season, many of the Huskies probably are trying to regain their self-respect after a lethargic effort last week against UCLA. And, of course, it means trash-talking rights for the winners in their off-season encounters with the losers.

Key matchup

Washington defensive line vs. WSU offensive front.

Washington State may not be last in the Pac-10 in rushing offense (the Cougars are ninth, ahead of UCLA) or passing offense (again ninth, ahead of Stanford) but it is last in total offense (almost 30 yards a game behind UW). A big part of the problem moving the ball is the inconsistent play of an offensive line jumbled by injuries and personnel moves. When that group functions well together, WSU moves the ball. When it doesn’t, the Cougars stall. Across the line this week is a group that struggles against the run (228.5 yards a game) and doesn’t deliver pressure on the passer (a conference-low 10 sacks, tied with WSU). So what happens when the easily moved object collides with a resistible force?

Vince Grippi, staff writer