Sept. 3, 2010

Week 1 winner: The game receiving the highest percentage of votes (61 percent) for Week 1 was Washington at BYU. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. MT on Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. CBS College Sports Network will televise the game in high-definition.

The lowdown: BYU is 3-4 against the Huskies but has won the last two, including 2008 when it blocked a potential game-tying extra point on the final play of the game. The Cougars have opened the season with a win three straight years and are 6-1 in home openers since 2001. Washington has opened against BYU in Provo twice, winning 42-20 in 1997 and dropping a 35-28 decision in 1999. Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian played quarterback at BYU for two seasons, guiding the team to a 14-1 record in 1996. BYU's only loss that season came against Washington. Both teams are receiving votes in the AP and USA Today Coaches polls.

The insight: CBSC college football analyst Aaron Taylor, a former Notre Dame All-American who spent six seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers, spoke with McGrane about the Washington-BYU matchup. Taylor will work alongside play-by-play announcer Dave Ryan at Saturday's game in Provo.

McGrane: What are the keys to Washington winning this game?
Taylor: The first thing Washington has to do is win the turnover battle on defense to create a short field for their offense. The second thing is, they have to be able to withstand the physicality of BYU. There are some big, big boys on both sides of the ball for BYU and they are a very physical team. A lot of people knock them for being kind of big and slow and not like some of the athletes you would see in the SEC or the Big 12, but they are a big, physical team that moves around very, very well. Washington also has to be able to stop the pressure packages that BYU brings. They have to do a good job of picking up their assignments and keeping (quarterback) Jake Locker off the ground. Washington also has to do a good job in terms of red-zone efficiency. Once they cross the 20, they not only have to come away with points, but points that are touchdowns."

McGrane: How do you see this game shaping up for BYU?
Taylor: Whichever quarterback plays --- Riley Nelson or Jake Heaps --- BYU first and foremost has to take care of the football. They (Riley and Heaps) have to give themselves a chance to win the ballgame and not turn it over to Washington's high-powered offense. BYU has a lot of young players, particularly at quarterback and tight end, and that creates the potential for turnovers. To avoid that, you have to establish the run. They're going to miss having Harvey Unga back there; any team would. But they're going to have to get some good production out of their backs. Kariya (junior running back Bryan) is going to have to show up and play a good game and (junior running back J.J.) Di Luigi is going to have to do the same. They have a very big, experienced offensive line, so I think they have to let the guys up front win the ballgame for them to take the pressure off the quarterback position."

McGrane: If you were to identify some key matchups in this game, what would they be?
Taylor: The very experienced defensive backfield of Washington against the young and inexperienced quarterback position of BYU. If there is a strength to Washington's team, it's probably their (secondary). I really think that's the thing that's going to set the tone for this game. Simultaneously, you've got BYU's very experienced and big offensive line against a defensive line that's not overly-talented. Whoever wins those matchups is likely to win the game."