SALT LAKE CITY — Why is Washington a favorite in the Pac-12?
It’s a question asked by many around the conference, particularly given that the Huskies finished the 2015 season with a 7-6 record. The team’s only marquee win last year came against No. 17 USC in week 5, which ended the rocky tenure of then-head coach Steve Sarkisian.
Good, but not great.
So why all the hype surrounding the program? Is it the Chris Petersen effect — maybe hoping the BCS-busting Boise State mojo will translate to Petersen’s third season at Washington? Or is there something more that indicates a surge in preseason projections?