While I'm not confident in this years team at this point of the season, looking around the conference, we're not the only program with huge question marks.
Cal looks strong offensively, but we still don't know how they'll defend the pass. We scored 59 on them last year. I think the Bears will beat us, but timing could be on our side. We're sandwiched in the middle of a brutal stretch of road games for them. Here's how their recent/upcoming schedule looks: at Texas (last week), at UW, WSU, at Utah, at UCLA.
Oregon not much analysis needed here. The Ducks will be favored by 20+ against us, but their defense is weaker than it's been in the past. Still can't predict anything other than a loss here.
Oregon State has struggled in all of their games so far this year. New coach, young QB's. We should be favored in this one. Will be interesting to see how they do vs. Stanford on Friday.
Arizona looks at this point to be a lot better than us. Beating them on the road will be a tall task.
Stanford looked dead in the water before their big win at USC last weekend. Getting them at home helps, and despite their output last weekend, I'm still not sold on their offense. I think we can hang in this game.
ASU really looks to have taken a step back this season, particularly on offense. We'll find out more about them this week when they play USC, but getting them in Pullman in November doesn't look daunting.
UCLA has already lost a lot of starters to injury, including do everything Miles Jack. They're also playing a true freshmen QB. It's wouldn't be unrealistic to project that, by the time we play them, they're running out of energy. True freshmen always seem to hit a wall, and it's tough for any program to navigate through a season without 3 of their elite players.
Colorado is a lot like us, and playing them in Pullman the week before Apple Cup could be a trap game for the Cougs. Fan support is always low for the last (non-Apple Cup) home game, and the Buffs won't be phased by cold weather. Still, this is obviously a winnable game.
UW seems to be inspired this season with their youth movement, but like UCLA, it's tough to ride an entire season with a true freshmen QB. We'll see how the Dawgs navigate through conference play. If we face Lindquist, I like our chances.
Some of these teams will rise up, but I'm not seeing a gauntlet of elite teams. I think we *could* hang with most of these teams.
Cal looks strong offensively, but we still don't know how they'll defend the pass. We scored 59 on them last year. I think the Bears will beat us, but timing could be on our side. We're sandwiched in the middle of a brutal stretch of road games for them. Here's how their recent/upcoming schedule looks: at Texas (last week), at UW, WSU, at Utah, at UCLA.
Oregon not much analysis needed here. The Ducks will be favored by 20+ against us, but their defense is weaker than it's been in the past. Still can't predict anything other than a loss here.
Oregon State has struggled in all of their games so far this year. New coach, young QB's. We should be favored in this one. Will be interesting to see how they do vs. Stanford on Friday.
Arizona looks at this point to be a lot better than us. Beating them on the road will be a tall task.
Stanford looked dead in the water before their big win at USC last weekend. Getting them at home helps, and despite their output last weekend, I'm still not sold on their offense. I think we can hang in this game.
ASU really looks to have taken a step back this season, particularly on offense. We'll find out more about them this week when they play USC, but getting them in Pullman in November doesn't look daunting.
UCLA has already lost a lot of starters to injury, including do everything Miles Jack. They're also playing a true freshmen QB. It's wouldn't be unrealistic to project that, by the time we play them, they're running out of energy. True freshmen always seem to hit a wall, and it's tough for any program to navigate through a season without 3 of their elite players.
Colorado is a lot like us, and playing them in Pullman the week before Apple Cup could be a trap game for the Cougs. Fan support is always low for the last (non-Apple Cup) home game, and the Buffs won't be phased by cold weather. Still, this is obviously a winnable game.
UW seems to be inspired this season with their youth movement, but like UCLA, it's tough to ride an entire season with a true freshmen QB. We'll see how the Dawgs navigate through conference play. If we face Lindquist, I like our chances.
Some of these teams will rise up, but I'm not seeing a gauntlet of elite teams. I think we *could* hang with most of these teams.
