2010 Washington Football Predictions

August 9, 2010

The Washington Huskies head into the 2010 season off a disappointing season where they finished up the year at 5-7 and just 4-5 in Pac-10 play. The Huskies were unable to win a single game away from home last season, as they went a miserable 0-5 on the road. This year they bring back 18 starters and will enter the second season under head coach Steve Sarkisian. It won’t be easy for the Huskies to turn things around in 2010 with the Pac-10 looking as strong as its been in years, but you can’t count this team out. Here is quick breakdown of what the Huskies will send to the field this season, plus my prediction on where they finish the season in the Pac-10.

Offense:

The main reason you can’t count the Huskies out this season, is they have arguably the best quarterback in the country in senior Jake Locker, who very likely would have been the No.1 overall pick in the NFL draft had he decided to leave school early. Locker finished up the 2009 season with 2,800 yards passing with 21 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions, and should be able to put up even better numbers with all the weapons back in the passing game.

Junior Jermaine Kearse led the way for the Huskies with 50 catches for 866 yards and eight touchdowns in 2009, and should be one of the best the Pac-10 has to offer this season with Locker throwing him the ball. The Huskies also get back junior Devin Aguilar and sophomore James Johnson at wide receiver, and will also bring back one of the top tight ends in the conference in junior Kavario Middleton.

With all the attention the opposing defenses must give to Locker and the Huskies passing attack, it allowed for sophomore to be Chris Polk to run for 1,113 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman in 2009. Locker is also a threat to tuck the ball in and run, as he finished second on the team with 388 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

The offensive line welcomes back four starters from last season, as the only change will come at right guard where sophomore Mykenna Ikehara is expected to start. If this unit continues to keep Locker healthy and off his back, the Huskies should have one of the most explosive offenses in the Pac-10 this season.

Defense:

Washington has eight starters back on the defensive side of the ball, and it will be up to this unit in just how good this team is in 2010. If the defense shows the same improvements that they did in 2009, where they went from allowing nearly 39 points a game in 2008 to just under 27 in 2009, this team is going to be a legit title contender in the Pac-10.

Up front the Huskies bring back both starters at the defensive tackle spots in junior Alameda Ta’Amu and senior Cameron Elisara, but must replace both starters at defensive end. Senior De’Shon Matthews and sophomore Talia Crichton are the leading candidates to start heading into the fall.

At linebacker the Huskies bring back one of the best linebackers in the Pac-10 in senior weak-side linebacker Mason Foster, who not only finished second on the team with 85 tackles, but led the Huskies with three interceptions last season. Also back in the starting lineup will be junior middle linebacker Cort Dennison, who finished with five tackles for loss in 2009. The only new starter will come on the strong side where junior Alvin Logan is expected to make his way into the starting lineup.

The Huskies really struggled against the pass in 2009, but with all four starters back this unit figures to make some solid strides in 2010. Sophomore corner Desmond Trufant is one of the best young corners in all of the Pac-10 and should be a shutdown corner for the Huskies in 2010.

Pac-10 Prediction – Tie For 7th:  I had a very hard time picking the Huskies to finish this low in the Pac-10 this season, but I have big concerns with what the defense is going to give this team. It doesn’t how many points you score if you can’t stop the other team from putting points on the board as well. The Huskies also have just four home games and must travel to take on USC, Arizona, Oregon, and Cal this season.

For a complete look at how the conference will shape up this season, check out our 2010 Pac-10 predictions from Jimmy Boyd.

If you are looking to make some money betting the college football odds this season, be sure to stop back for our expert college football picks when the season gets underway.

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Posted by Jimmy Boyd · Filed Under Football Picks, Football Predictions, Football Rankings 

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