UCLA Football: 2017 Game-by-game predictions
By Zach Bigalke
It certainly won’t come against the defending conference champions. Washington is in a similar situation as the Bruins this season. While the Huskies return many of the key parts of its own prolific offense, they too are dealing with major losses on defense. By the end of October, we will know just how formidable both teams’ defenses are in 2017.
Last year the two teams avoided one another on the schedule. Washington has won 10 of their past 12 meetings, including the past two in 2013 and 2014. The rosters have largely turned over from those games, though. Instead, it will be a quarterback duel between Josh Rosen and Washington’s Jake Browning.
After leading the Huskies to the Pac-12 title and into a College Football Playoff berth last year, Browning will be looked upon to shoulder even more in 2017. Chris Petersen’s crew has a legitimate shot at running the table once again, and UCLA is not likely to be the team that takes down Washington on its path.
Like in the Oregon game, running will make the difference. Myles Gaskin will rush for somewhere between 125 and 175 yards and at least two touchdowns as the Huskies continue their march to another Pac-12 championship. In the process, any shot UCLA had of meeting them in Santa Clara as the Pac-12 South representative will pretty much collapse.