Predicting how Washington will do this season on the grid iron is like throwing darts blind folded out of the back of a moving pick-up truck. None of us will know how much the team has improved until they play a few games.
Unfortunately two of those first three games are against LSU and USC. I think having a healthy Jake Locker and an enthusiastic new coaching staff gives us a good chance to be competitive in every single game this season and I think that new attitude and outlook begins on the first snap against LSU.
Washington opens up the season against heavily favored LSU in a nationally televised game at Husky Stadium. The Huskies will give the Tigers more of a game than most expect but LSU should win this game by a couple of scores. Win or lose washington needs to come out and give these guys a game with at least ten California recruits in the stands. This game is going to be a lot closer thna people think. (0-1)
The longest losing streak in Husky history ends when the Idaho Vandals offer themselves up for sacrifice in Husky stadium. The Huskies really needed this one to get the monkey off the back. (1-1)
Are Steve Sarkisian and Nick Holt still friendly with Pete Carroll? The new Husky coaches face their old mentor at home for the first time. Washington traditionally plays USC tough home and on the road and had the chance to beat the Trojans a couple of time under Willingham. I think the Huskies play the tough but USC wins in the fourth quarter as usual. (1-2)
Playing a road game at Stanford is like playing at a neutral site. Even though they did a nice job rebuilding the stadium and the program people still aren't showing up for games. Stanford is a team that Washington has to beat and since we are looking at the season through purple glassed I take UW in this one. Cardinal fans..their are a few of them left are talking about a first division finish. Fifth place is there for the taking. (2-2)
Notre Dame isn't going to be a great team this year. That being said they do have the type of schedule that can get them back into a BCS bowl game. Washington is one of those questionable teams on the schedule and we are overdue for a payback victory against the Irish. I have been to South Bend every time Washington has played the Irish in the modern era. It is a tough place to play but not nearly as tough as Tempe on a warm night. Sark puts a big nail in Weis's coffin and gets a signiature win on the road. (3-2)
Arizona like Stanford is one those teams that Washington has to beat to climb out of the basement. The Wildcats have enough problems going at this point that I am predicting a Washington win with or without the purple shades. I think the Wildcats have way too many questions to answer to achieve an upper division finish this season. (4-2)
Washington should have beaten Arizona State last season and they would have if Jake Locker wasn't injured. Tempe on the road isn't an easy win. Night games in the stadium are very intimidating to visiting opponents. It will be close but I take the Sun Devils because of home field advantage. Like UCLA later in the year this is an important swing game for both schools. (4-3)
Isn't it time we beat the Oregon Ducks? It sure is and the Ducks have a new coach and some major holes to fill on both sides of the ball. Even though this game is at home, and Oregon has some problems to solve, our program simply isn't close to being at the same level yet. This game will be closer that the past six years but I have to go with Oregon because they can simply outscore us. (4-4)
UCLA was terrible last season and they are going to have to let their defense carry them in 2009 if they are going to get anywhere. Like Arizona, Stanford, and WSU these are teams you need to beat to show the program is moving in the right direction. The Rose Bowl hasn't been kind to UW while playing UCLA but I am going to predict a Husky win in Sark's return to LA. This should be a pivotal swing game for both of these teams. (5-4)
Oregon State has a lot of holes to fill on both sides of the ball. Mike Riley and Mark Banker have been adept at reloading rather than rebuilding at OSU and this season will test him early. UW gets these guys in Corvallis late in the year. It is going to be close but the home field advantage and an established program gives the nod to the Beavers. (5-5)
Washington State enters 2009 as the worst football team in about every category in the conference. The roster looks like a police blotter witht he depth and talent being suspect at almost every prediction. Washington wins and become bowl eligible in this one. (6-5)
The last time the Huskies played Cal in Husky Stadium they came away with a huge win. Husky QB Carl Bonnell stepped in for injured QB Jake Lockers and engineered a dominating win behind a poundung running attack. I think Cal starts the season as my #2 in the Pac 10 and I think they finish challenging for a BCS bid. the Huskies play them tough but the Bears simply have more talent and depth left at this point of the season. (6-6)