2008 Washington Huskies Football Wagering Preview

Strengths

Locklear will be playing behind an experienced offensive line that returns three starters and should help him improve on his woeful touchdown-to-interception total of 14 touchdown passes against 15 interceptions.

The young signal caller has talent in skill position players, wide receivers D’Andre Goodwin, Chris Polk and running backs Brandon Johnson and JR Hasty, but all four players have yet to accomplish much at the collegiate level while waiting for their respective opportunities.

Weaknesses

The Huskies lost a bunch of experience in receivers Anthony Russo and Marcel Reese and running back Louis Rankin and will enter the 2008 season hoping their atrocious defense will perform better in 2008 than they did last season when they ranked near the bottom of every major defensive statistical category while allowing opponents to put up a whopping 446 yards per game.

The good news for the defensive unit is that the team has a promising line backing unit and a new coordinator in NFL veteran assistant Ed Donatell.

2007 Record: (4-9, 2-7 Pac 10)

2007 Bowl Game: None

Head Coach: Tyrone Willingham (11-25 at Washington, 76-77-1 overall)

Offensive Coordinator: Tim Lappano

Defensive Coordinator: Ed Donatell

Returning Statistical Leaders

Rushing: Jake Locker, QB, 986 yards

Passing: Jake Locker, QB, 2,062 yards

Receiving: Michael Gottlieb, TE, 136 yards

Tackles: E.J. Savannah, LB, 111

Sacks: Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, DE, 8.5

Interceptions: Mesphin Forrester, S, 2

More Key Returnees: K Ryan Perkins, LB Trenton Tuiasosopo, OT Ben Ossai, CB Byron Davenport, C Juan Garcia, S Darin Harris, FB Paul Homer,

Key Losses: WR Anthony Russo, WR Marcel Reese, DT Jordan Reffett, DT Wilson Afoa, DE Greyson Gunheim, LB Dan Howell, CB Roy Lewis, OT Chris Macklin, RB Louis Rankin,

The BetUS Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2007 and a player that should definitely be better in 2008 with a season of experience under his belt but will playing with an offensive group that is talented but extremely thin on experience.

2007 Team Stats

Offense

Rushing: 203.08 (18th in nation, 2nd in conference)

Passing: 191.15 (93, 9)

Total Offense: 394.23 (60, 6)

Points Per Game: 29.23 (51, 5)

Sacks Allowed: 1.85 (48, 4)

Defense

Rushing: 185.00 (89, 10)

Pass: 261.38 (104, 9)

Total Defense: 446.38 (103, 10)

Points Allowed Per Game: 31.62 (92, 9)

Turnover Margin: -.08 (64, 6)

Sacks: 2.54 (29, 6)

2007 Wagering Stats

4-9 SU, 2-7 (Conf.), 6-7 ATS, 9-4 O/U

2008 NCAA Football Odds

+2000 to win Pac-10

+10000 to win BCS Championship

2008 Analysis

This will likely be head coach Tyrone Willingham’s last season leading the Huskies unless they show some serious improvement and pick up a couple of extra wins over last season. This very young team could be really good in another year or two but by that time Willingham will probably be an afterthought in Huskies program history.