Washington vs. Stanford: Last Minute Spread Info, Line, BCS Impact & Predictions

The Washington Huskies have made their way into the Top 25, but run into an absolute juggernaut in the Stanford Cardinal.

The top team in the Pac-12 has been absolutely dominant this year and has even overcome bad halves of play to cover every spread.

Washington and Stanford account for 66 percent of the ranked teams in the Pac-12 and the third, Oregon, joins the two of them in the Pac-12 North.

It is certainly unfair, but the North division is head and shoulders above the South.

Neither of these teams can afford a loss.

Where: Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California

When: Saturday, October 22 at 8 p.m. EST

Watch: ABC / ESPN 3

Spread: Stanford -20.5

There is no spread the Cardinal have not been able to handle.

For the fourth straight week they are facing a 20-plus point spread and there is no reason to believe they'll stop.

Andrew Luck has the Cardinal offense playing sound football and they've absolutely dominated opposing running games.

I'll ride with the Cardinal until they prove otherwise.

Over/Under: 62.5

The two teams combine to score 82 points per game. But putting them together is an interesting option.

Washington gives up nearly 29 points per game though, and that doesn't bode well against Andrew Luck.

Stanford's played to the under in four of their six wins, but has not gone over a spread higher than 60 points.

That is a testament to their defense and we'll roll with that too. The under is the safer play.

Key Injuries

Washington: None to report

Stanford: Tyler Gaffney, RB—Probable 

BCS/Top 25 Poll Implications

This is a huge game for both teams. Washington cannot afford to lose if they want to make a run at the Pac-12 North title and Stanford's BCS National Championship hopes ride on an unbeaten season.

A loss will knock Washington from the ranks (but not too far considering it is Stanford).

A loss for Stanford would be absolutely devastating to a season that looks so promising.

Key to Washington Win

Hit and contain Andrew Luck. Not only does this sound difficult, but it even looks difficult. The No. 1 prospect in the country has only been sacked two times this season.

There is no way a team can win a game against Stanford if they cannot get to Andrew Luck.

He has too much football knowledge, talent and athleticism to make teams pay on every drive if he's not being bothered.

Scoring against Stanford will be tough enough, but the Huskies can give themselves a chance if they can hold Luck down just a little bit.

That all starts with getting pressure on him. 

Key to Stanford Win

Stay true. There is nothing you can tell this team that they don't already know. They know what they're good at and they know what works.

Luck doesn't have to throw the football 40-60 times per game like other quarterbacks in the country because Stepfan Taylor is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and their offense is perfectly balanced.

The Cardinal have thrown the football 191 times on the season and have run it 215.

Many would question why Luck isn't utilized even more, but all you have to do is look at the scoreboard.

Prediction: Stanford 48, Washington 21