Season Preview Weeks 7-9
Well, that was kind of a rough last few weeks with one of the more brutal stretches the Huskies have seen in a very long time. I think a lot of you might have been a little upset with the prospect of this squad losing three straight when there is so much talent, but taking the next step might just come from beating the teams the Huskies are supposed to be beat, and that is what we'll find out going into the second half of the season.
Week 7: at Arizona.....Bear Down
While the Stanford game will be the first big test for the Huskies at home in a game that will have major implications on how the rest of the season plays out, this game in Arizona will be a true indicator if the Huskies have moved past the decade-long depression. On paper, our Dawgs should.....insert obvious cat-dog joke.....and win this game in a blowout. Arizona has lost Nick Foles who is now in the NFL and has probably since forgotten about that Husky win where he bounced the football off of Delashaun Dean's foot to give the Huskies a miraculous win. Now, the Wildcats usher in the Rich Rodriguez era, which if it goes anything like his time at Michigan, the Sun Devils are going to be very happy. They have a very young offensive line, they are moving to a 3-3-5 defense and RichRod typically has a tough time getting started at new programs. What may go against the Huskies in their seventh game of the season is that three headed monster of Stanford-Oregon-USC in back to back to back weeks. That usually means the team will be fatigued, hurt and maybe a little downtrodden. Keep in mind I am not an expert and so if the Huskies can beat Stanford or upset the Trojans (even though I don't think they will), then we may be in a little bit different of a situation. My guess, Arizona will be in a much tougher situation than the Huskies. UW really has to step it up and show it can go on the road and beat the teams they are better than. That is a very key step in the rebuilding process and completely necessary if the Huskies get back to prominence before Keith Price leaves for the NFL at the end of next season. I see "Teeth" going huge in a very impressive win putting the Huskies back on track for a decent bowl game.
My Prediction: Huskies win 36-17 in what will surely be a night game, what with it being in the desert and all, and the Huskies get Pac-12 win #1. Team Record: 3-4 (1-3)
Week 8: Oregon State at "home", which is always fun, in a "I need to change my shorts" kind of way.
The Beavers have proven to be a bit of an enigma for the Huskies each year. Last year, the Huskies were having a decent season when it went on the road to Beaver Stadium with Nick Montana filling in for "Teeth", and the team just could not rally around the less than capable gun-slinger. That was a win the Huskies had to have to make a nice statement on a season that was filled with so much hope. The Dawgs battled back eventually and got to the Alamo Bowl, but that extra win would have been nice. Two years ago the Huskies had a 21-0 lead over the Beavers at home, the real home, and they barely pulled out a win in double overtime (just a couple of examples of the history between the two teams, what I didn't include was the crazy Jake Locker getting knocked out game or the Isiah Stanback going down for the season years). I believe the difference between this year and last couple of years is the Huskies will win these games. Mike Riley's squad is also dealing with a very young offensive line and they are hoping some of the younger, true freshman recruits will step up and be big this year. I really don't see any kind of firepower on either side of the ball. The team is coming off of consecutive losing season going 3-9 last year with an opening season loss to Sacramento State. Sacramento State. Yeah, Sacramento State. Riley recruited well in the offseason and there is some hope for this Beavers team who gave Pete "Hollywood" Carroll rare losses on big stages throughout the 2000's. The difference between now and then, they don't have a player, that I can think of off the top of my head, who has the last name Rodgers (namely Jacquizz or James). This team is a couple years away from upsetting the big names (soon to include the Huskies) and they are going to struggle again this year. As for the Huskies, can't you just picture Keith Price going off in this game hooking up with Kasen Williams for three TD's and 150 yards? It just seems like that will happen. We'll see. All of a sudden, though, Huskies are making a run.
My Prediction: Huskies win 41-14 and visions of a nice little season become a little clearer. Team Record: 4-4 (2-3)
Week 9: on the road at University California-Berkley in a new stadium, and no longer needing to share their sidelines with a Giants right fielder.
There have been some good memories against Cal the last couple of years. I don't think anyone will ever forget when Chris Polk powered through the line on the last play of the game in a miserable, rainy game that had one of the craziest finishes these eyes have ever seen. Last year, the Huskies battle through a rough first half with Keenan Allen catching everything that was sent to him ending up with nearly 200 yards and 10 catches. It put the Huskies at 3-1 on the season and they were starting to turn heads, especially with the surprising play of Keith Price. What was frustrating, however, was that little pipsqueak Zach Maynard threw for more than 300 yards and made the secondary look like a bunch of 8th graders. They had exposed the Huskies in what was becoming a common theme last year, yet the Huskies showed a ton of grit and determination in a respectable, at the time, 7 point win. This year's Bears team is only returning half of its starters after seven of those guys went off to the NFL. However, Allen comes back, and he scares the poo out of me. If Maynard is on his game, the new look secondary could be in for a long Friday night on ESPN2. If the Huskies can stay healthy, this is another game the "next level" Huskies SHOULD win, which is key. Cal always plays the Huskies tough and Jeff Tedford will need to win games like these to keep his job. This is undoubtedly a key game for the Dawgs, another tough test that mid-00's Huskies would never win, but this group can.....and will.
My Prediction: Huskies win a bruiser 27-25 on the strength of a Callier/Sankey, running back by committee showcase. Look out for the Dawgs on the prowl all of a sudden. Team Record: 5-4 (3-3)
Now that is a stretch Husky fans can get excited about, and trust me, I didn't give the Dawgs those wins just to please my Husky Loyal Army. My honesty is what you will love and hate about this blog, and that's what it is all about.
Less than a week away from Husky Football. If you aren't excited by now, I think you should probably go to www.HuskyLoyal.com and ATLEAST check out the trailer for the documentary. Also, continue to follow me on Twitter @UWHuskyLoyal for more information. My fourth and final post for my season preview should be unveiled in the next 36 hours, and then it's all about game time.
Bow Down!!!
I appreciate your unbiased preview of the husky football season but you are way off. 1st of all, we can beat LSU, and if the game wasn't at night we pull off the upset. However, We WILL win vs Stanford. I don't care who you are, when you lose 3 of the 1st 35 players in the draft, you are going to take a step backward....And they are now 2 yrs removed form Harbough who is the real MVP of that program.
ReplyDeleteDawgs start out 3-3(we are a year removed from hanging with UO and SC.
The big question is, can we win out and go 6-0 the rest of the way.
best case 9-3...Worst case, lets not talk about it til after the zona game
TrulyLoyal,love the passion, and I think you are right, that LSU game is actually quite winable in different circumstances in two ways, 1)if were a little bit later in the schedule, I think that favors the Huskies in terms of rhythm and LSU needing to go through the SEC gauntlet and taking some lumps 2)in Death Valley at night time is the toughest venue in college football, and although this Husky team is really good and can do some things, that's a tall order.
ReplyDeleteIn all, it's too bad circumstances don't play in UW's favor because that could have been a huge win for this program. As for Stanford, definitely a winable game, but, my gut says we don't win it. I pray I am wrong.
Thanks for chiming in.