2012 Husky Football Season Predictions

The 2011 college football season hasn’t ended, but with the schedule release, the hirings and firings, looking to next season is all the more fun.

Of course, projecting the Huskies season at this point is nearly impossible, but seeing that they could face four teams potentially ranked in the top 10 in the first six games is frightening for any Husky fan.

No recruits have even signed yet, spring ball is months away, and there are question marks left and right; still I am going to take a much too early stab at projecting the Huskies 2012 season.

September 1: Vs: San Diego State: To open the season the Huskies have a game that won’t be easy; the Aztecs will be coming off of an 8-5 season where they made it to a bowl game. Still the Huskies, at home (Century Link Field) should be able to handle their business and win. WIN

September 8: @ LSU: The Huskies will likely be huge underdogs in this game facing either the National Champion or the runner up on the road. I expect Washington to put up a fight though and keep it much closer than the national media predict. Washington’s offense could be even better next year with a year older Keith Price, another year for the offensive line, and another year for Kasen Williams and Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Yes losing Chris Polk will hurt, but Bishop Sankey and Jessie Callier should be just fine. Still the Tiger defense will be ready for the Huskies and will win in a tight ball game. LOSS

September 15: Vs: Portland State: Let’s be real, if the Huskies don’t come home from Louisiana and dominate the Vikings, then something has gone wrong next season. Even a beat up Washington team should win this game handily. I expect Price to potentially get some rest because he’ll need it for the upcoming conference games. WIN

September 27: Vs: Stanford: The Cardinal lose Andrew Luck, which seems like the biggest hit, but they also are going to be losing two offensive lineman into the first round of the draft as well. Brett Notthingham is the likely replacement for Luck, and I have no doubt that Stanford will likely be a good team, but the Huskies may catch a break playing them early in the season, at home. Washington should win this game, the Huskies have the veteran QB and the home field advantage. Both teams will come off a bye week so expect two prepared football teams, but Washington should win. WIN

October 6: @ Oregon: The hated Ducks haven’t lost to the Huskies since 2003, will 2012 stop that run? Potentially yes, but I think that the Black Mamba DeAnthony Thomas is going to become one of the best college runningbacks we’ve ever seen and next year will be his coming out party. The Husky defense will be improved and this will be the first of back to back huge tests for the defense, and I think Oregon will be too much for Washington; and it will be similar to games in the past, the Huskies will stick around for the first half before Oregon runs away in the second half. LOSS

October 13: Vs USC: When Matt Barkley decided to return for another year he stuck a dagger into the hearts of Seattleites. Not only will he get the opportunity to carve up the Husky secondary one more time, but that’s also one less quarterback for the Seahawks to go after in the draft. Even huge strides from the Washington defense won’t contain Barkley and Robert Woods; I expect the Trojans to compete for the National Championship next season and thus, a big win over the Huskies seems likely even though it is in Seattle. LOSS

October 20: @ Arizona: The Wildcats could very easily fall into the cellar of the conference next season; even with Rich Rodriguez at the helm, losing Nick Foles is going to hurt badly. The Cats were third in the nation in passing in 2011 and somehow won just four games, that’s incredible. The Huskies should role in this one and snap a two game losing streak. WIN

October 27: Vs Oregon State: In 2011 this was supposed to be the game that stopped the Huskies losing streak, instead the Beavers pulled an upset and blew the Huskies back to Montlake. That’s not going to happen in 2012, the Huskies know that no Pac 12 team, especially a Northwest team, can be overlooked. Steve Sarkisian clearly looked past OSU when he started Nick Montana over Price, later putting Price in, a move that angered many Washington faithful. The game is in Seattle so look for Price and company to get revenge, and a big win. WIN

November 2: @ California: The Bears may have the worst starting quarterback in the conference in Zach Maynard, he’ll return as a senior and will likely be the starter again; that’s not good news for California. The Bears lose Marvin Jones, but they do return star receiver Keenan Allen who burnt the Huskies for 197 yards in 2011. Still the Huskies should be able to win this game even on the road. It will be win number 6, which means bowl eligibility for the third year in a row. WIN

November 10: Vs Utah: Playing at home you’d expect this to be all Washington after last year’s huge win in Utah; but that probably won’t be the case. Utah battled injuries to starting QB Jordan Wynn, who missed the final 9 games of the season, but with Jon Hays under center the Utes seemed to thrive to finish the season. John White had a monster season and he should return to have another great year in 2012, but will it be enough? I don’t think so; Washington should be much better on both sides of the ball in 2012 and playing at home should be enough to beat Utah. WIN

November 11: @ Colorado: Will Colorado be any better in 2012? They probably will, and catching them at the end of the season is not much of a break for Washington. The Buffs picked up two wins in their final three games to close out both 2011 and 2010. Maybe it takes some time for the team to acclimate to the high altitude; whatever it is, I am calling this a trap game right now. The Huskies will struggle; on a 4 game winning streak this is going to be a nail-biter. Yet, in the end, Washington is too talented to lose this game and the Huskies will pull it out. WIN

November 23: @ Washington State: The Apple Cup could be considered a coin flip almost any year, especially when one team is looking to play spoiler. But chances are, two losses in conference, one being to Oregon, would put the Huskies out of contention for the Pac12 championship game and a three loss team is likely not going to a BCS bowl game. On the other hand, I expect Mike Leach to have a much improved Cougar team fighting for bowl eligibility; this game could be the difference maker for WSU. Oddly enough the 8-3 Huskies will look to play spoiler against the 5 win Cougars, in Pullman. It will be a tight game, but in the end, Washington will ride former Cougar commit Bishop Sankey to a victory and a 9th win. WIN

That puts the Huskies at 9-3 (7-2) and likely second in the Pac 12 North alongside about a number 15 BCS ranking. That earns them a spot in the Alamo Bowl, unless some BCS bowl decides to choose the Huskies as an at-large bid.

A huge improvement from 2011, but there are high hopes for the defense to make huge strides under the new defensive coaching staff. Alongside what could be one of the best offenses in the country, the Huskies should expect 2012 to be the season where Sarkisian puts the program back on the map.

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