Washington has revenge on their mind after they lost to Boise State in the bowl game on neutral field in Las Vegas. Now they'll play Boise at home to open up the season with 18 returning starters including 10 on offense while Boise returns just 11 total and 5 on defense. That's where Washington will have a huge advantage with Bishop Sankey combining for 279 yards on 30 carries and 6 receptions in the bowl game. Washington is implementing a new spread up tempo attack that should have a big impact in this game if QB Keith Price can run it. Boise is strong on the defensive line with Demarcus Lawrence who was suspended for the bowl game, but they have no depth and they'll have an issue against Washington at home and an OL that made the necessary changes for improvement. I think Price has a big game connecting with Kaseen Williams and the running game should explode as Boise has a completely rebuilt back 7.
Now Boise always comes up with big games when they are not supposed to, but this time they have just 2 returnign starters on the offensive line and Joe Southwick who picked up his play last year at QB will be going into a hostile environment as Washington re-opens their stadium. This will be the loudest opposing crowd that Southwick has played in and I think Washington will have a huge impact on this as they are very strong in the front seven. I don't think Boise will have the time to take advantage of their biggest advantage in this game which is receiving corp vs. the Washington secondary. I look for defensive coordinator to press and jam the Boise receivers to make it difficult for the offense to move the chains.
Cal has regularly not lived up to expectations, but they are littered with 4 star talent as Jeff Tedford always did an exceptional job recuriting and I think their talent is compatible with Sonny Dykes Air Raid system because they have a lot of depth at WR. The offensive line has to replace 2.5 starters, but there is plenty of potential and being at home the first game should be an advantage. Northwestern was 61st in sack % last year and often struggled to get teams off the field.
Northwestern comes into this game as a heavy road favorite because they are 22nd in the AP poll, but we have learned that means nothing. They have some of the key players back with Cain Kolter and Mack at running back, but they have to replace 3 starters with 97 starts along the offensive line so expect the running game they rely on so much to struggle early in the season. Cal really needed a coaching change and I think there will be a lot of buzz tomorrow night and I won't be surprised to see them defeat a ranked opponent to open up the season.
