Washington @ California preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2015 ) California 30, Washington 24

Fourth-ranked Washington is back among the national elite but the undefeated Huskies have more work to do as they enter Saturday’s Pac-12 road game at California. The Huskies were ranked fifth in the initial College Football Playoff rankings and can’t afford any slip-ups due to a soft non-conference slate.

Washington is looking for its 12th consecutive victory and is coming off a 31-24 road win at Utah, a victory secured when junior Dante Pettis scored on a 58-yard punt return for his school-record fifth score. “It’s good we just went on the road in a tough environment, so it just feels a lot different playing at home than on the road,” Huskies coach Chris Petersen said at a press conference. “So to go right back into another (road) environment, I think that can be a positive. Cal is good at home.” The Golden Bears will be better if junior receiver Chad Hansen – the Pac-12s leader with 59 receptions and 770 receiving yards – can return after missing two games an ankle injury and coach Sonny Dykes rates him as questionable. “I think Chad will be back,” Dykes said. “The thing you don’t want to do with an ankle is put him out there is he’s not close to 100 percent. A wide receiver has to a do a lot of change of direction and explosive-type things. Hopefully we’ll see him on Saturday. That’s the goal.”

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Washington -17

ABOUT WASHINGTON (8-0, 5-0 Pac-12): The Huskies average 46.1 points per game and sophomore quarterback Jake Browning has joined has the Heisman race by throwing 28 touchdowns passes against only three interceptions. Junior wideouts John Ross (11) and Pettis (eight) have combined for 19 touchdown receptions while sophomore running back Myles Gaskin has rushed for 878 yards and seven touchdowns. Washington leads the nation in turnover margin (plus 1.63 per game) and fumble recoveries (12) - junior inside linebacker Keishawn Bierria is the nation's individual leader with five – and ranks seventh in scoring defense at 15.8 points per game.

ABOUT CAL (4-4, 2-3): The Golden Bears can score rapidly (41.3 average) but give up points just as fast (41.8) and the pass-first offense hinges on senior quarterback Davis Webb, who has passed for 2,914 yards and 29 touchdowns. Senior running back Khalfani Muhammad has a team-best 614 rushing yards while freshman receiver Demetris Robertson is helping make up for the absence of Hansen with six scoring receptions. Cal is a woeful 124th in total defense (505.9 yards per game) despite the opportunistic nature of junior free safety Luke Rubenzer, who has four takeaways (two interceptions, two fumble recoveries).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cal recorded a 30-24 victory in last season’s meeting to halt a five-game losing streak in the series.

2. Webb is two passing touchdowns away from matching Pat Barnes (31 in 1996) for third place on Cal’s single-season list.

3. Huskies senior OLB Joe Mathis (team-high five sacks) will miss his second straight game due to a foot injury.

PREDICTION: Washington 44, California 26