BYU @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2010 ) Washington 17, Brigham Young 23

FIGHT HUNGER BOWL STORYLINES

1. Washington made a big splash by hiring Chris Petersen away from Boise State earlier this month, but its new coach will be a casual observer when the Huskies face BYU in the Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco on Dec. 27. With Steve Sarkisian headed to USC, quarterbacks coach Marques Tuiasosopo will lead the Huskies against BYU, which has won a school-record four consecutive bowl games. Washington is looking to win nine games for the first time since 2000, when Tuiasosopo was the Huskies’ starting quarterback.

2. BYU boasts a top-25-scoring defense, but the Cougars figure to be tested by an explosive Huskies' offense led by Bishop Sankey, who has rushed for 1,775 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Cougars also have to worry about Washington’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who caught seven touchdown passes and received the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end.

3. The teams have split eight meetings in a series that began in 1985. BYU has won its past three games against the Huskies, including a 23-17 victory in 2010. The Fight Hunger Bowl marks the teams’ first meeting in a bowl game.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Washington -3

ABOUT BYU (8-4): The Cougars recorded six wins against teams going to bowl games, including an impressive 40-21 victory over Texas on Sept. 7. BYU averages 274.6 yards rushing with dual-threat quarterback Taysom Hill (28 total touchdowns) and running back Jamaal Williams leading the way. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy looks to follow-up last season’s star turn in the Poinsettia Bowl with another strong effort, but the Cougars’ defense could struggle if linebacker Spencer Hadley (knee), nose tackle Eathyn Manumaleuna (shoulder) and cornerback Robertson Daniel (neck) aren’t able to return from late-season injuries.

ABOUT WASHINGTON (8-4, 5-4 Pac-12): The Huskies won four of their last five games and finished third in the Pac-12 North Division, behind Stanford and Oregon. Senior quarterback Keith Price missed a game after suffering a shoulder injury against UCLA on Nov. 15, but he accounted for two touchdowns in a 27-17 win over Washington State in the regular-season finale. Defensive end Hau’oli Kikaha had 10 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss to lead the Huskies, who converted 16 of 22 takeaways into scores.

PREDICTION: Washington 34, BYU 24