College Football: Week 1 Watchlist WASHINGTON v OREGON

Washington at Oregon
There is no grace period when you face a conference foe in the first week. No D II cupcake (except Appalachian St.) to get the kinks out, It’s tough now and tough later. Autzen Stadium will be rocking as these northwest foes knock heads. Ty Willingham is on the hot seat in his fourth season as the Huskies coach needs to reach a bowl game and beat the hated Washington St. Cougars. His job will go as far as the arms and legs of the talented QB Jake Locker take them. Oregon’s hopes and dreams aren’t solely on one man, as a new QB is acclimated to the Pac 10. Two teams with one common goal, win football games, unlucky for one of these Northwest rivals, there has to be a loser.

So how will Oregon play after National championship hopes were lost last year due to Dennis Dixon’s knee injury? The Ducks have to fill the gap of departed stars Dixon and their stud first round draft pick RB Jonathan Stewart. If these spots can be filled reasonably well the Ducks have a good chance to be competitive for the Pac 10 championship. Nate Costa will only be asked to run this offense smoothly and not turn the ball over. RB Jeremiah Johnson will be a work horse. They have 15 returning starters and a tremendous defense lead by star All American safety Patrick Chung. Ducks and D don’t usually go together and it starts up front with D-ends Will Tukuafu and the returning league sack leader Nick Reed (12). Expect them to put pressure on Locker all day. If locker is fortunate to have time to throw look for this secondary to be around the Huskies’ receivers like a hot chick at a sausage fest. CB Walter Thurmond and Jarious Byrd who combined for 12 picks last year, with the help of Chung they have one of the best secondary’s in the conference and the nation.

Washington has a stud of a QB in Jake Locker but he will need to become more of a passer if they hope to rise up in the Pac 10 standings. He ran for 986 yards and 13 TD with a 5.7 YPC avg. witch is awesome especially for a freshman but 2,062 yds passing 14 TD and 15 INT is not. Locker will have to make new connections after losing four starters at wideout. Curtis Shaw and fellow sophomore receiver D’andre Goodwin need to create some chemistry with Locker play some madden go fishing and play catch so he has confidence in their routes and abilities. There are to many new faces on this offense to finish in the top four of the Pac 10 and make or bowl game, and they won’t get their first conference win against the Ducks. . Defense wins championships, and good defenses have star players. Oregon has two All-Americans and Washington’s defense set records last year in yards and points allowed, advantage ducks. A new defensive coordinator will help the Huskies, but there is a lot of work to be done on a unit with veterans scattered throughout the lineup.
Prediction
Oregon Washington
41 24