Washington Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Rutgers

Rutgers and Fresno State are the only FBS teams that Washington football faces outside of the Pac-12 in 2017. Which one will be a tougher opponent?

The Washington Huskies kick off their season against another Power Five team in the Rutgers Scarlet Knights from the Big Ten. Rutgers is one of the two toughest opponents that head coach Chris Peterson and UW faces out-of-conference. Washington’s non-conference schedule is not very threatening.

One of the biggest knocks against Washington last year was that they did not play any big teams outside the Pac-12. They didn’t even get past the USC Trojans during the regular season. Yet, Washington did win the Pac-12 Championship and made it to the College Football Playoff.

To make it back, Washington needs to dominate their non-conference matchups. Rutgers and Fresno State should not even keep it close. Voters did not trust Washington to do the same thing as last year since they received the No. 8 ranking in the AP Poll.

Junior quarterback Jake Browning is the heart and soul of this team. Running backs Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman play a big role. Senior receiver Dante Pettis replaces John Ross and Browning’s primary target. Freshman receiver Ty Jones is a name to watch.

Washington’s defense could end up being even more talented than their offense. The linebackers form a group that could be the best in the conference. The secondary and defensive line have some as well like junior defensive end Vita Vea and sophomore safety Taylor Rapp.

Rutgers just does not have the talent to compete with a team like Washington. They have trouble staying out of the bottom of the Big Ten standings. Keeping the score close would be a big accomplishment for the Scarlet Knights.

Now, let’s take a look at three bold predictions for the Washington Huskies against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.