Washington vs. Stanford Football: Key Matchups for This Weekend's Pac-12 Clash

At the beginning of the season the big game in the Pac-12 was supposed to be Oregon and Stanford. While it still is, this game is bigger than anyone had anticipated before the season had started.

While the line stands with Stanford as a 21-point favorite, the Huskies have been playing well and have earned a spot in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll. Plus, after being shut out 41-0 at home last season, Steve Sarkisian and Company are probably looking for a little payback. 

5. Austin Seferian-Jenkins vs. Stanford's Secondary

He’s hot, he’s cold. What will he be on Saturday?

Against Eastern Washington and Nebraska, he only had one catch in each game. In the other four games he has averaged three catches a game with about 50 yards a game and a touchdown a game.

Stanford has a darn good defense and will probably give him some problems.

4. Alameda Ta'amu vs. David DeCastro

Ta'amu may not put up the stats that some of the other star defensive tackles in the NCAA do, but he is a force. Projected to be a first-round draft pick by nearly everyone, Ta'amu is considered by many to be the best nose tackle prospect in all of college football.

He doesn't get into the backfield a whole lot, but he eats up space extremely well and clogs any hole that a running back could hope to squeeze through. That being said, DeCastro is no pushover. He too is an expected first-round draft pick by many, as well as fellow offensive lineman Jonathan Martin.

It will be a great matchup to keep an eye on all game.

4. Coby Fleener vs. UW's Secondary

Despite being a tight end, Fleener is putting up some very impressive numbers. Leading the team with 383 receiving yards, 23.9 yards/catch and six touchdowns. UW’s secondary has been a little shaky at times and the linebacking corps is still young and inexperienced. 

3. Desmond Trufant vs. Chris Owusu

Trufant has been playing pretty well this year, as he's near the top of the country in total interceptions. Chris Owusu is one of the best receivers in the country so the Husky corner will be busy all game. Plus, having Andrew Luck throwing to you doesn’t exactly hurt.

2. Chris Polk vs. Stanford D-Line

Probably one of the biggest surprises this season for the Huskies is Chris Polk. It was known that he would put up good numbers. The surprise is that he is playing sidekick to Price when everyone thought it would be the other way around. Polk still has some great numbers and adding this current season’s numbers to his other two 1,000-yard seasons he is currently No. 2 on the career rushing yards list for the school.

Polk is a great runner who has an amazing burst and an uncanny ability to break tackles for a guy his size. Stanford’s line has been strong this year however, so it will be a real test to see who will win it out.

1. Andrew Luck vs. Keith Price

Andrew Luck is the leading Heisman candidate for a reason, throwing for 1,719 yards, 18 touchdowns to only three interceptions while having a 71.3 percent completion rating.

While Luck is a guaranteed top-three pick in this next upcoming draft, don’t overlook Price at all. He is tied for second in the nation for touchdown passes with Boise State’s Kellen Moore. He also has passed for 1,466 yards to only four interceptions with a completion rating of 69.4 percent.

People think that this game will be a real make-or-break test for Price. We know that Luck will do well, but the battle will be to see how Price will respond to the numbers that Stanford will put up.