Washington vs. UC Davis Preview and Somewhat Serious Big Ten Predictions

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Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman runs with the ball in a 38-17 win over Colorado State on August 30, 2025 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Credit: Scott Eklund/Red Box Pictures/Washington Athletics [/caption]

Let’s have a little fun with the Big Ten picks this week while we still can. After a date with WSU for the Apple Cup on Sept. 21, things get very real for the Washington Huskies football team when they enter Big Ten play. 

Saturday’s game against UC Davis looks a lot like a cake walk — maybe even a cupcake walk. A solid FCS opponent gives UW an opportunity to fine-tune its new defense and an offense that essentially contains seven new starters. The Huskies should not take the Aggies lightly, but I can, as you’ll see in The Pick. I’m not playing in the game, though everyone else still there late in the fourth quarter might get a snap or two.

UW has a recent loss to an FCS opponent, falling at home to Montana in 2021 at the beginning of the end of former Huskies head coach Jimmy Lake’s Washington career. UC Davis stunned Stanford in 2005, but it seems unlikely that former UW coach Chris Petersen’s alma mater will provide another shocker on Saturday. The Huskies are 61-4-3 against teams currently in the Big Sky Conference. Idaho is the most common victim. The Vandals are 2-36-2 against Washington.

Here are some of the storylines heading into this one:

UC Davis Quarterback Dance Moves

Aggies freshman quarterback Caden Pinnick will provide a good test for a Huskies defense that started slowly in last week’s 38-21 win over Colorado State. Pinnick has some 2013 Russell Wilson-type spin moves in his repertoire, so Washington will need to keep the 6-0, 200-pound quarterback contained.

Pinnock can throw with some accuracy, but it’ll be a challenge for him to get something over the top of UW’s 6-4 cornerbacks Tacario Davis and Ephesians Prysock. He showed some moxy last week, leading UCD to 24 straight points to overcome a 17-point deficit to beat Utah Tech 31-24. Washington’s defense will be a whole different test, however, than all but a couple of Tech schools.

Defensive Line, Come on Down

Colorado State matched UW blow-for-blow into the third quarter last week. But, UW allowed just 1.6 yards per rush in the second half and seemed to figure some things out after the Rams unveiled a few new offensive wrinkles. UW defensive coordinator Ryan Walters has two games’ worth of UC Davis tape to watch. Almost two games, that is. The Aggies led Mercer 23-17 with 7:46 to go in the FCS Kickoff Class before a weather delay turned into the game not being completed and ruled “no contest.” But the tapes were not erased, so Walters shouldn’t be surprised by much of what the Aggies try Saturday.

The Huskies should have pretty much everyone available on the defensive front except perhaps defensive tackle Jayvon Parker and third-string nickel Dyson McCutcheon. It’s possible a couple of others might be held out of this one, given the opponent. I don’t expect Washington to unleash its bag of stunts and exotic blitzes against the Aggies, but they should be able to dominate physically. Will this be the game Huskies edge Zach Durfee announces his presence? He caused Colorado State some issues last week, but did not record a tackle.

How many carries for Coleman?

It will be interesting to see how many times Jedd Fisch calls runs for senior running back Jonah Coleman on Saturday. If he rushes for 200 yards and breaks a couple of big runs, that could help boost his Heisman and Doak Walker chances. The Huskies have a bye next week. But, also, do you want to ride Coleman a ton in a game that likely won’t matter much?

This game might provide Fisch and receivers coach Kevin Cummings an opportunity to further figure out who's going to emerge as major targets behind star receiver Denzel Boston. Two true freshmen — Raiden Vines-Bright and Dezmen Roebuck — may get more chances this week. Senior Omari Evans will sit out with a soft tissue injury.

The Huskies will also use this game to build more offensive line cohesion. True freshman John Mills played a solid game last week at left guard. Saturday could be a game that allows UW to work on its depth as well. Champ Taulealea, who is also a true freshman, could get in at guard. Redshirt freshman Paki Finau, who rotated in at times in Mills’ position, should see significant snaps again. Zach Henning could also work in at center and guard. Tackles Maximus McCree and Soane Faasolo both started some games in 2024 and should see some action against UCD.

Big Ten Picks

You should have bet the house on my picks last week. That means, however, it’s best not to bet anything this week as I’m due for a fall. The 16-0 straight up was nothing to brag about — the only game with less than a field goal spread was Ohio State-Texas, and 11 of the games I picked were double-digit spreads. There isn’t a big-time game this week, unless perhaps you’ve called Iowa home. Many of the other Big Ten teams are playing directional schools, or colleges where you ask a buddy, “What state is that in, anyway?”

Nowhere to go but down after a hot start, but here are this week’s picks: 

Last week: 16-0 straight up, 12-4 against the spread

Friday 

Western Illinois at Northwestern (-28)

The Big Ten is beating up on the Illinois directional schools this weekend, and it’ll be a rough one for the Leathernecks. Northwestern 34-7

Northern Illinois at Maryland (-16.5)

The Huskies (not those Huskies) will pay penance after knocking off Holy Cross last week. Maryland 40-17

Saturday

Florida International at Penn State (-42.5)

International travel can be brutal, especially when it’s a long bus ride from the Harrisburg airport to Happy Valley. Penn State 43-0

Illinois (-2.5) at Duke

Pesky road game, but Coach K isn’t coaching this team. Illinois 26-23

Iowa at No. 16 Iowa State (-3.5)

It’s a bad idea to pick a team to win but not cover a 3 1/2 -point spread. Iowa State 19-16

Kennesaw State at No. 23 Indiana (-35.5)

This game is the meat of a sandwich between Old Dominion and Indiana State. Could it be a trap for the Hoosies? No. Indiana 45-6

Northwestern State at Minnesota (-43.5)

This Big Ten matchup… wait, that says “Northwestern State?” Now, Northwestern vs. Northwestern State would be quite a game. Minnesota 56-8

Grambling at No. 1 Ohio State (55.5)

Grambling coach Mickey Joseph talked about the battle of the bands leading up to this one, and give me Grambling all day if that’s the matchup. Ohio State 70-3

Oklahoma State at No. 6 Oregon (-27.5)

Mike Gundy is a man. He’s 57. But for some reason, he’s talking about Oregon’s NIL budget, and that means the Ducks will be fighting for wins instead of clicks. Oregon 41-10

Miami (OH) at Rutgers (-15.5)

The other Miami keeps it close, but leaves New Jersey playing second fiddle as always. Rutgers 27-21

Middle Tennessee at Wisconsin (-28.5)

Wisconsin has scored more than 28 points just three times in its past 13 games, but the Badgers are favored by more than that. Wisconsin 38-10

Michigan at Oklahoma (-5.5)

As an added penalty for its 2023 scandal, Michigan will drop to No. 24 in the rankings after this game (JM, if you’re reading this, I’ll Venmo you after you win this one). Oklahoma 28-21

Akron at Nebraska (-34.5)

Did you know that Akron would be the third-largest city in Nebraska if they moved it to Nebraska? Nebraska 45-10

Georgia Southern at USC (-28.5)

Did you know that Southern Georgia isn’t really in the southern part of the state? False advertising. USC 44-17

Boston College at Michigan State (-3.5)

Big news in East Lansing: Jonathan Smith can move within 15 victories of John L. Smith for Michigan State coaching wins by picking up his seventh on Saturday. Michigan State 24-20

Southern Illinois at Purdue (-19.5)

The Silukis dismantled Thomas More College 49-3, and Purdue wrecked Ball State 31-0. Something has to give. Purdue 33-13

UCLA -2.5 at UNLV

The Bruins might be really, really bad this year, and both of their fans are going to be really, really disappointed. UNLV 24-16

The Pick

UC Davis at Washington (-28.5): Washington will win by a lot. Early blowout — let’s call it 28-0 at halftime — but some younger, inexperienced Huskies come in for much of the second half, and the game bogs down for a 41-7 win.