2008 Washington Huskies Football Predictions

Head coach Tyrone Willingham may be on the hot seat if he can't show major progress in year four. The team still appears one year away, but Willingham may not have the chance if he can't get this team playing better than .500 football. Find out if Willingham and the Huskies can get the job done in Jimmy Boyd's 2008 Washington Huskies predictions and season preview. Sportsbook.com lists Washington's odds to win the 2009 BCS Championship at 100-1.

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Offense

Sophomore QB Jake Locker may be the most talented signal caller in the conference and will be the focal point of the Washington attack again. Locker, one of the most anticipated players in UW history did not disappoint in his debut, rushing for 986 yards (Pac-10 QB rushing record) and throwing for 2,062 yards and 14 touchdowns. Like Tim Tebow, he's a physical runner who does not shy away from contact. Expectations will be even higher for Locker so hopefully he won't buckle under the pressure. His 47 percent pass completion percentage must improve. It may be difficult for him to improve significantly in this area however, as there are major questions at wide receiver and tailback. The Huskies must replace five senior wideouts and 1,000-yard rusher Louis Rankin. The offensive line should still be a strength so Locker should still have some room to maneuver. Three starters return and it would have been four if All-Pac-10 center Juan Garcia hadn't suffered a season-ending foot injury in the spring.

Defense

The UW defense allowed 31.6 points per game last season and ranked just 103rd in the country in total defense. With UW returning just one of its top six defensive lineman, not enough improvement will be made. The linebackers and the secondary will try to step up and help out the front line. Having two returning starting linebackers and three returning starters in the secondary is crucial since the front line is so thin. Junior E.J. Savannah, who led the team with 111 stops in 2007, will lead the linebacker corps. New defensive coordinator, Ed Donatell, a defensive backfield specialist, will try to get his backline thinking big play thoughts. Seniors Jason Wells and Darin Harris return at safety and will have to compete with up and coming sophomores Nate Williams and Victor Aiyewa. Byron Davenport returns at one of the corner spots with UW needing to find another one to position opposite him.

Special Teams

Willingham changed special teams coaches also to improve his coverage units. This appears to be another move which indicates that he is feeling the heat. While risky, the best way to improve special teams is to play your starters.

Prediction – 8th Pac-10

Talented QB John Locker will make Washington's offense a unit to be feared again, but its defense has too many questions, especially up front. It will be disappointing if Willingham gets the boot though as 2009 figures to be a bowl season for Huskies. A tough schedule will likely have the Huskies finishing below .500 again, behind Arizona and Oregon State but ahead of teams like Stanford and Washington State. The betting line on Washington to win the Pac-10 is 20-1 odds.

Jimmy Boyd's college football picks will earn your respect and will earn you money this season. Stick with Jimmy from September through the bowl season and you will have plenty of extra cash from college football betting to show for it.

July 12th, 2008