Written by :
Published on :
The Auburn Tigers and Washington Huskies are mixing it up on Saturday in one of the top College Football games of the opening weekend. The Auburn Tigers are favorites at -2 over the Washington Huskies on Saturday.
Washington Huskies
Following a 10-3 season the Huskies now return 75 percent of last year’s production. That is the second-most in the Pac-12 and close to a level that almost assures improvement. Washington will also add a top-15 recruiting class to their 2018 mix as well as getting quite a few key pieces back from injury.
Head coach Chris Peterson has been everything Washington could have wished for after hiring him back in 2014, and now looks to take yet another step forward and improve upon last season.
With a defense that forces you to take whatever they give you and nothing more alongside with an offense led by senior quarterback Jake Browning, the Huskies have tremendous odds to win the Pac-12 and getting back to the College Football Playoffs.
Auburn Tigers
The Tigers are coming off a 10-4 record last season and are ready to defend their SEC West title. Auburn has lost some key players to the NFL but look to follow quarterback Jarrett Stidham’s lead, especially with some uncertainty in the backfield as Kam Martin looks to fill the shoes of Kerryon Johnson.
Martin averaged 6.1 yards per carry in limited action during the 2017 season and looks to continue Auburn’s legacy as they are one of only two schools that have averaged 1,000-yard rushers each of the last nine seasons, the other team being Boise State.
With a defense that should be stout up front and deep at the linebacker position, the Huskies need their secondary to grow up quickly as Gus Malzahn’s squad will be tested early as come November will face the challenge of facing the two teams that played for the national titles last season in a two-week span.
Pick and Predictions
This game could honestly go either way as both sides find themselves with enough question marks position-wise. One thing that we can all agree on is that both sides of the ball hold a ton of talent defensively and remain two of the best all-around defensive units in the country. Both teams have concerns in the secondary not because of poor play, but due to a lack of experienced depth so that’s something to keep an eye on.
This could be one of those grind it out, low scoring type of games even with both sides having skill on the offensive side of the ball. If Auburn plays faster than Washington like we’ve seen them do to opponents in the past, then the Huskies are in real trouble if they can’t find a way to slow down the Tigers.
With the void that Vita Vea leaves the Huskies on the defensive line the Tiger’s should be able to run the ball with Kam Martin and get it done in Jordan-Hare Stadium. We’ll take Stidham and the Auburn Tigers over Browning and the Washington Huskies in a big game to kick off the college football season this Saturday. Bet the Tigers at YouWager!
