Heisman Odds Increasing for Washington QB Jake Browning
Washington has never had a Heisman Trophy winner in program history, another streak sophomore quarterback Jake Browning is attempting to end this season.
The Las Vegas SuperBook released its updated Heisman odds Monday, with Browning at 8/1 and tied with Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson for third highest behind Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett (6/1) and Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson (2/1).
Browning leads the country in completion percentage (204.86) and ranks second in touchdown passes with 23. In just his second full season as Washington's starting quarterback Browning is already the all-time leader in completion percentage (.658) and quarterback rating (158.0).
Washington was the consensus off-season national champion due to seemingly every media outlet tabbing them as a possible College Football Playoff team - at least according to ESPN's Brad Edwards - and at minimum a 10-win team with significant bowl expectations.
Those expectations, that talk? Petersen isn't a fan but can't do anything to prevent it.
"We’ve had that since the start of this season, UW head coach Chris Petersen said Monday on lessons learned from Boise State undefeated run. "I was so irritated with you guys and you were so irritated with me. It hasn’t changed. You guys want to keep putting these expectations on these kids and all this stuff.
"All we’re trying to do is win the next game. And that’s the bottom line."
Washington remains a unanimous No.5 team in the Associated Press and coaches poll following its bye week. Petersen has continued to emphasize remaining focused on the next game at hand, and not thinking about running the table.
Having two undefeated seasons in his eight seasons at the helm of Boise State, the third-year Huskies head coach isn't new to the pressure of handling the outside pressure internally.
"We’re foolish to think that doesn’t have an effect on our team and our mindset," Petersen said. "That’s one of the big battles that we have as a team, as a coaching staff, is to keep these guys focused on being focused. We had that conversation yesterday. I think that’s an every week topic. I really do."
Washington also has to focus on reviewing the 2015 game film against Oregon State, with third-string quarterback Marcus McMaryion likely to start with starter Darell Garretson out with a broken ankle.
The Huskies routed OSU 52-7 at Reser Stadium last season, and with the game in Seattle this season it's expected to be another blowout victory for UW. The opening lines favored UW by 29-points, but now have the Huskies up to a 35-point favorite against the Beavers, the highest point-spread vs a Pac-12 program in well over a decade.
Other notes and quotes --
*** Petersen reiterated Monday he believes both running back Chico McClatcher and right guard Shane Brostek should be good to go Saturday vs OSU.
*** Washington has gained recognition for it's fake zone-read, option play this season including Alabama using it this past weekend. Petersen said tongue-in-cheek, "Let me just tell you this. We steal everything. I’ll just say that. I mean, I don’t know if I’ve ever had an original thought in my life. But I know a good thing when I see it, and we steal everything.”