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College football Week 9: 5 teams on upset alert

By Cody Williams

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks to pass during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks to pass during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 07: Quarterback Jake Browning (3) of the Washington Huskies hands the ball off to tailback Myles Gaskin (9) in the 4th quarter of a game between the Washington Huskies and the Cal Bears at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA. Washington defeated Cal by a final score of 38-7. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 07: Quarterback Jake Browning (3) of the Washington Huskies hands the ball off to tailback Myles Gaskin (9) in the 4th quarter of a game between the Washington Huskies and the Cal Bears at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA. Washington defeated Cal by a final score of 38-7. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Washington Huskies

Rank: 12, Opponent: UCLA Bruins

There’s no doubt in my mind that Chris Petersen has the Washington Huskies both motivated and pissed off heading into their Week 9 matchup. They’ve had two weeks to stew over a road loss to an Arizona State Sun Devils team that they were vastly superior to, but could only manage seven points against. Now that their record is no longer perfect, it might seem like bad news for their next opponents, the UCLA Bruins.

Looking at the situation at hand, it’s not a stretch to say that the Huskies are superior to the Bruins in this matchup and should be able to win running away. Their offense is more balanced and just as dangerous as the group led by Josh Rosen. Meanwhile, their defense is vastly superior to the one that Jim Mora Jr. puts out on the field each week. So then, why are the Huskies on upset alert?

Frankly, it all comes down to Rosen. He’s been playing well and put the team on his back a week ago to topple a short-handed Oregon team. While Washington is a major step up, the future NFL quarterback doesn’t have a real signature win on this season to his credit. Perhaps it’s buying too much into narrative, but I don’t see that staying the case all season. And as such, I believe that puts a Washington team that hasn’t even really faced a big test yet on notice.

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