Handicapping the UW Huskies in 2012
Washington Huskies Betting Washington Can't Sneak Up On Everyone This Year
Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian
Offensive Coordinator: Eric Kiesau
Defensive Coordinator: Justin Wilcox
Stadium: For 2012: CenturyLink Field (Husky Stadium is being renovated this year)
Capacity: 67,000
Offense
For people who deal with NCAA football betting, the 2011 Alamo Bowl showcased so much tht was good about the Washington Huskies. That game against Baylor showcased all the reasons why Washington is in such good shape on offense. Washington scored 56 points against Baylor. Quarterback Keith Price outplayed Baylor's Heisman Trophy-winning signal caller, Robert Griffin III. Washington threw for 438 yards, scored 35 first-half points, and rolled to 28 points in the second quarter. The Huskies amassed 620 yards, with receiver Jermaine Kearse collecting 198 yards on five catches. Running back Chris Polk is gone, but Price is back in the saddle and the core of the offense remains intact. Seattle will bear witness to a lot of fireworks this upcoming autumn. Online football betting players know this.
Grade: A-
Defense
This is where Washington needs to improve every bookie and every bodog review analyst could tell you as much without having to pore over the numbers. Despite scoring 56 points in the Alamo Bowl, Washington lost
by a double-digit scoring margin. That's why changes were made on the coaching staff. UW's defense surrendered 777 yards to Baylor, most of them on the ground. The Huskies allowed 29 third-quarter points to the Bears, 43 in the second half. In addition to the obscene point total Washington's defense conceded, the Huskies allowed Baylor to score so quickly after UW touchdowns. The outing by Washington's defense was so disastrous that coordinator Nick Holt got fired shortly afterward. The Huskies had one side of the ball figured out, but they were simply AWOL on the other side of the line of scrimmage.
This is where the Huskies made the move that will likely put them in good stead for the future. Head coach Steve Sarkisian hired Justin Wilcox as his new defensive coordinator. Wilcox had been serving as the defensive coordinator at Tennessee and did a great job of keeping the Vols competitive in years when their offense struggled. More important for Washington and Sarkisian is the fact that Wilcox smothered Oregon in 2009 as the defensive coordinator at Boise State. Oregon is Washington's foremost rival and competitor in the Pac-12, so the reality of Boise State's 19-8 win over Chip Kelly and the rest of the Ducks three seasons ago made him a very attractive candidate to replace Holt. With Wilcox, Washington has the coaching staff to rise to the top of the Pac-12. It just won't happen this year, though
not with this defense.
Grade: D+
Special Teams
The Huskies were second in the Pac-12 in net punting, at just over 40 yards. However, placekicker Erik Folk was just 11 of 16 on field goals. Washington needs better placekicking if it wants to be that much more of a factor in the Pac-12.
Grade: C+
Prediction
The Huskies are simply going to have to endure a brutal three-game stretch against Stanford, Oregon and USC. If Washington can win just one of those games, it will have done well. It will position itself for a nine-win season. That's the most UW can expect, though: It won't win at LSU, part of one of the most challenging schedules in the entire United States.
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2012 Schedule
Week 1 vs. San Diego State (10:30 PM ET)
Week 2 at LSU (7:00 PM ET)
Week 3 vs. Portland State (4:00 PM ET)
Week 4 vs. Stanford (Thursday, 9:00 PM ET)
Week 5 at Oregon
Week 6 vs. USC
Week 7 at Arizona
Week 8 vs. Oregon State
Week 9 at California (Friday, 9:00 PM ET)
Week 10 vs. Utah
Week 11 at Colorado
Week 12 at Washington State (3:30 PM ET)
