I was listening to the Softy show today and heard that Washington has made an offer to Gonzaga to play a series of three games at Key Arena in Seattle where they would split the gate generated by the event. Mark Few is said to be mulling over the offer. "Now the ball is in their court so to speak," said Richard Kilwien, UW's associate athletic director of athletic communications.
"We are all motivated to get a decision soon," Washington spokesman Richard Kilwein said. "Both schools have a strong following in Seattle and the finances associated with playing a game at KeyArena give both schools a fairly substantial financial guarantee -- which offsets the costs of losing a home game in any particular year.
Gonzaga of course does not want to play UW in Seattle unless there is a return game in Spokane. Washington doesn't want to play in Spokane. The neutral court idea is intruiging but since it is in Seattle I am not sure if Few will be receptive. If he doesn't take the offer it will make Gonzaga and Few look bad which is the whole idea behind the offer anyway. These two programs don't like each other very much.
Jeremiah Masoli has been cleared to play on Saturday for the Oregon Ducks as long as he wears a knee brace. He has looked good in practice this week so chances are Kelly will start him.
Phil Steele who is one of the best college football prognosticators out there has picked Washington to beat Oregon 26-23. Phil seems to be subscribing to the same theory I am.
We’ll side with the Huskies with the uncertainty at the QB spot for the Ducks. Washington outgained LSU, while also beating USC and upsetting Arizona at home this year. The Husky homefield advantage is becoming prevalent and look for them to take advantage versus a Ducks squad that had a misleading win against UCLA benefitting from 3 TD’s in the first 5 minutes of the second half on a KR, IR TD and a short drive after a fumble.
Here is the coverage map showing that the UW-Oregon game will be shown to 19 percent of the country, essentially the entire West Coast plus Alaska and Hawaii. you can also get the game for free on your computer at ESPN 360.