Auburn Football: Game-by-game predictions for Tigers in 2018
The Washington Huskies are ranked fourth overall by the S&P+’s per their pre-season rankings. Chris Petersen has done a fabulous job at Washington turning the Huskies back into a household name. While at Washington, Petersen has posted a 37-17 overall record including finishing 22-5 over the past two seasons. The Huskies finished 2017 5th overall per the S&P+ after posting a 10-3 record.
After a good but not great junior campaign senior quarterback Jake Browning returned for another year in Seattle. The Huskies offense was ranked 18th per the S&P+ last season. The Huskies return seven starters to their 2018 offense but not offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith. Smith is now the head football coach of the Oregon State Beavers. Alongside Browning returns tailback Myles Gaskin. Gaskin rushed for 1,380 and 21 touchdowns a year ago.
Can the Tigers shut down the Huskies offensive firepower? I would think so. Auburn has starters to replace on defense but they finished the season as the fifth-ranked defense per the S&P+.
On offense, the Tigers had the 34th-ranked offense and quarterback Jarrett Stidham will face off against the Huskies fifth-ranked defense. The Huskies return nine starters on the defensive side but will have to face multi-talented stars like Nate Craig-Myers and Devan Barrett.