Washington Huskies 2023 College Football Preview
July 15, 2023
2022 Recap
Record – 11-2
ATS – 8-5
DESTINY can be the name of a hot stripper with nothing to lose, or a cruel mistress, and it was the latter for the Huskies. They won ten regular season games but got left out of the PAC 12 Championship Game thanks to a kooky tiebreaker mechanism that allowed the Utes to go on and win the whole thing. Having said all that, Washington made yuuuge strides in year one of the Kalen DeBoer experience and even booked an 11th win for good measure by taking down Texas in the Alamo Bowl (W 27-20).
Washington Huskies 2023 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Huskies moved like a TREMENDOUS MACHINE last year and finished the season ranked #2 in the country in total offense (516 YPG) and #1 (!) in passing offense (370 YPG). Star QB Michael Penix Jr. is coming off a phenomenal campaign (4,641, 31-8 TD to INT) and he’s back for one more tour of duty. Things get scary when you consider that almost all of their WR/TE weaponry returns this season including a pair (!) of 1,000-yard WRs in Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan (combined 16 TD). The Huskies lose #1 RB Wayne Tualapapa but retain #2 option Cameron Davis who had 13 rushing TDs LY and add a couple of nice additions from the transfer portal. The only potential trouble spot is an offensive line that returns just two starters, and note that the Huskies’ pass protection was outstanding LY (7 sacks in 575 attempts) (!!).
DEFENSE
Washington did a good job vs the run last season (#3 PAC-12, 121 YPG) but they were abused at times thru the air (#6 pass efficiency D, 26-7 TD to INT). Eight starters are retained on this side of the football but they’ll be without leading tackler safety Alex Cook and #2 sack producer Jeremiah Martin (8.5). The DL is definitely the strength of the defense as they boast several PENETRATORS including star DE Bralen Trice (9 sacks) and a ton of size on the interior. The LB unit appears decent but we’re not sure it has any “star power”, and the secondary returns three starters but needs to improve. Thankfully, they scooped up ace CB Jabbar Muhammad from Oklahoma St who should make a difference.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The kicking game takes a hit with the loss of PK Peyton Henry (19-22 FG LY) and they need a better effort from punter Jack McCallister and the coverage unit (#128 FBS net punting). The good news is that they’ve got a talented collection of doods at PR and KR.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The non-conference schedule won’t be a walk in the park as they face Boise St (H) and Michigan St (A). They face all three of the other potent PAC-12 players but at least they get two of them at home (Oregon, Utah).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Michigan St (Sept 16)
Michigan St will be looking to avenge last season’s defeat and Washington has PAC-12 action up next.
Season Win Total
Market consensus July 15
Over 9 -140
Under 9 +120
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
We’ve got slight LEANAGE to the ‘over’ as we approach press time. They don’t have too many killer games but it’s never easy to bag double-digit wins. Then again, they’ve done it in four of the last six full seasons.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
HC Kalen DeBoer has compiled a very impressive record of 23-8 as head coach with Fresno St and now Washington. Could we be looking at one of the rising coaching stars in college football?
Seattle, Washington is a puzzle wrapped-up inside an enigma. It’s a city surrounded by nature’s beauty being run into the ground by lunatics and psychopaths **. Citizens are treated to 363 days a year of torrential rain which is good if you are a marlin ^^.
** Fact check: Rampant crime, overwhelming homelessness, encouraged use of narcotics, and waves of human excrement might be some of the reasons why people are leaving the city in droves, but who knows. Also, it’s raining there right now.
^^ Fact check: Not every year.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
It’s PAC-12 Championship Game or bust for the Huskies as they have an experienced and talented roster that’ll score points in bunches. Facing Oregon and Utah at home is yuuuuge, and if Penix can stay healthy for the entire season, we think they’ll find themselves playing for all the PAC-12 marbles in early December. AWOO! Go Huskies!