Seattle Times: Huskies, a 26-point favorite against Rutgers, eager for Saturday’s season opener

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://washington.247sports.com/Article/First-Look-Rutgers-Offense-47050003
First Look: Rutgers Offense

 

[Alaska_Dawg]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...cking-top-25-games-against-the-spread/page/11
College Football Week 1 Predictions: Picking Top 25 Games Against the Spread

Rutgers vs. No. 14 Washington (-27)

When: Saturday, Sept. 3, 2 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network)

Chris Ash might help Rutgers become a semi-competitive Big Ten program relatively quickly. But the Scarlet Knights severely lack weapons for the passing game, and that's a problem. Washington has three NFL-caliber defensive backs, as well as quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin. The Huskies open 2016 with a resounding win.

The Pick: Washington (-27)

 

[srru86]

Bellingham Herald
Huskies have few resources to use in preparation for Rutgers

 

[moondawgie]

You have to look below the surface of comparative scores to appreciate UW defense: many of their problems were created by offensive turnovers.

For example:
1. Utah State scored 17 only b/c they returned a UW fumble 97 yards for TD
2. Utah scored 24 pts after UW turnovers: fumble led to 17 yd TD drive, an 8 yd TD drive after an INT, a FG after a fumble recovery, and a fumble recovery returned for a 54 yd TD. Utah's offense was largely stifled.
3. UW had 5 turnovers vs Cal or would have held them in teens

We could go on. Obviously, if Rutgers' D can get UW to turn the ball over, you can have opportunities like those teams. Otherwise, scoring will be very challenging.

Look at Stanford: your offensive line may be big and experienced but is not at their level from last year, as evidenced by the whipping they gave Iowa in the Rose Bowl. UW held Stanford more than ten points under their average despite having no offense whatsoever with Browning out that game.

A Rutgers victory will have to come from their defense stuffing UW and creating turnovers, something a number of teams obviously did last year-- when the Huskies were starting 4 freshmen.

Not to mention the offense was so bad in the Cal and Stanford games that they left the defense on the field for ~70% of the game (turnovers, 3 and outs) and the defense still held both teams below their scoring average.