Ohio State football: 5 bold predictions for Rose Bowl clash vs. Washington

4. Can Washington flip the script for the Pac-12 and for themselves?

The Pac-12 has been less than good in the last couple seasons, especially in bowl games. They have been, without nicer ways to say it, the punching bag of college football. It doesn’t help that the majority of the conference has been horrid this season. Specifically UCLA and USC who were supposed to be the darlings of the conference absolutely wet the bed for lack of a better metaphor.

While it seems like Oregon is finally turning it around and Washington State is on the up and up, the Pac-12 needs this victory. The Pac-12 needs this for respect and to stop the disrespect surrounding this conference. No one has any faith in the Pac-12. No one is giving Washington the ability to win this one, but doing the direct opposite would make Pac-12 fans ecstatic.

For Washington, they have lost three of their last four bowl games under Chris Peterson. That isn’t all that great, but it doesn’t mean it’s time to move on from the man. Peterson has been a blessing for the Huskies. He has taken a program that didn’t really have much and brought them into a group that runs in top circles in College Football.

My bold prediction? Washington plays hard from start to finish for their coach and for their conference.