ESPN has picked up the game between Washington and UCLA and made it a Thursday night game. The odds at the sportsbook will now list the game on Thursday, November 18th instead of Saturday, November 13th. Sportsbook odds will likely have the Huskies favored since they are at home and since it will be the last home game for Washington quarterback Jake Locker. It will be the first game during the week at Husky Stadium since 1939.
Game time is set for 8 pm Eastern. “Having the UCLA vs. Washington game join our Thursday night lineup in 2010 is a tremendous addition to our schedule,” said Dave Brown, ESPN’s vice president of programming & acquisitions, “We look forward to showcasing both programs, the great city of Seattle and the great atmosphere of Husky Stadium for the first time on a Thursday night.” It will be the second Thursday night game for UCLA as they are scheduled for a game on October 21st against Oregon on ESPN.
Washington was much improved last season under new head coach Steve Sarkisian. The Huskies were 5-7 and they could take the next step this year to a winning record. Washington has Locker back and they also have a number of other returning starters. Locker could have gone to the NFL and been a Top 10 draft pick but he came back for his senior season. He accounted for 28 touchdowns last season and is a big reason why many sportsbook handicappers are predicting the Huskies will make a bowl game for the first time since 2002. “In my opinion, the real strides, the real improvement, occur from Year 1 to Year 2,” Sarkisian said. “That’s historically what we’ve seen.” Locker is so highly regarded that many are predicting he will be the #1 draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Locker wants to go to a bowl game before he begins his NFL career. It could happen in 2010 sportsbook odds since Locker has all seven of his top receivers returning. He also has sophomore running back Chris Polk coming back plus four starters on the offensive line are returning. “Knowing Jake, I don’t know if you can be more humble than that guy is,” Sarkisian said. “As talented as he is physically, he’s a better person, a better teammate. His teammates love him. They love his work ethic and the passion he plays with and the preparation he brings. They’re in this together.”