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Washington Football: 5 bold predictions for the Huskies in 2017

By Andrew Miller

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Jake Browning #3 of the Washington Huskies runs off the field against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Jake Browning #3 of the Washington Huskies runs off the field against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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People are already starting to count out Washington football in the Pac-12 and National Championship picture before 2017 even starts.

If the Washington Huskies make it back to the College Football Playoff in 2017, it will come to the surprise of many. They made a great run in 2016 behind quarterback Jake Browning and wide receiver John Ross. However, Ross is gone now and the Huskies will have to rely on Dante Pettis as their primary receiver.

One of the knocks against Washington one year ago was their strength of schedule, or lack thereof. Yet again, the Huskies have an easy slate to deal with. Their out of conference schedule includes the Fresno State Bulldogs, Montana Grizzlies out of the FCS, and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Clearing through their non-conference slate without a problem won’t give the Huskies any extra credibility. They have to win the Pac-12 again to make the College Football Playoff. If the USC Trojans win the Pac-12 South, that’ll be a tall task for head coach Chris Peterson and the Huskies to take care of business and win back-to-back conference championships.

Losing defensive backs like safety Budda Baker and corner Sidney Jones are guaranteed to hurt Washington. The only proven starter returning in the secondary is sophomore free safety Taylor Rapp, who intercepted four passes last season. Washington needs to put their secondary back together with really nothing but young pieces of the puzzle to work with.

Outside of USC, Washington is one of the favorites to win the Pac-12 in 2017. Other teams to watch include in-state rival Washington State, Oregon, Utah, Stanford, and Colorado. Washington faces every Pac-12 Title contender outside of USC during the regular season.

Washington is one of the more unpredictable teams in the top 10 of the first edition of the Amway Coaches Poll. They do not have a consistent history of success or a large brand name like many of the other teams ranked close to them.

Now, let’s take a look at five bold predictions for the Washington Huskies in 2017.

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