Add your prediction
Adam Jude
— Seattle times reporter
24-16
Alabama
“There's been so much talk about the Alabama defense, and with good reason. Overlooked a bit is UW's defense, which will have a chance to showcase itself on the big stage too. The Huskies will probably need at least one score from the defense to keep it close, but ultimately there's just too much stacked against UW while playing in what amounts to a road game 2,500 miles away from Seattle.”
Stef Loh
— Seattle times reporter
28-24
Alabama
“The UW defense will keep this close for a bit, but ultimately I don't think the Huskies' offense will have quite what it takes to eek out this one against the Alabama D.”
Percy Allen
— Seattle times reporter
41-24
Alabama
“Fully expect the Huskies to make it a competitive game for two or three quarters. However, I can't get their 26-13 loss to USC out of my head. Plus, the Crimson Tide is really good. They have too much talent and depth on both sides of the ball for UW to pull out an upset. Still, turnovers are always the great equalizer and Alabama's star offensive players rank in the bottom 20 of the SEC in fumbles per rush.”
Bob Condotta
— Seattle times reporter
27-16
Alabama
“The key from this view is whether Washington's passing game and speed at the skill positions can overcome what figures to be an Alabama edge in the trenches --- the Crimson Tide simply tend to overwhelm teams physically in these settings. If UW can hold up, then it can stay in this one, and if Jake Browning has one of his best games of the season, then anything can happen. But brawn often tends to win out in these kinds of games and Alabama may just have too much of that for UW.”
Ryan Divish
— Seattle times reporter
24-10
Alabama
“Too much talent and depth on the Alabama defense will be impossible for the Huskes' offense to overcome. If Azeem Victor and Joe Mathis were healthy for the UW defense, my pick might be different. ”
Matt Pentz
— Seattle times reporter
38-31
Alabama
“UW's magical season runs into a buzzsaw at the Georgia Dome. To beat the Crimson Tide, the Huskies have to play a perfect game. And in their its showdown of this magnitude in a generation, Washington struggles to establish a rhythm as 'Bama puts this one away early.”
Larry Stone
— Seattle times reporter
24-21
Alabama
“I’m not quite prepared to pick the upset, but with so much time to prepare, Chris Petersen will erase most of the 15-point spread. Not all of it, however. Alabama is loaded with too much talent to let this one get away.”
Matt Calkins
— Seattle times columnist
28-14
Alabama
“The Huskies' defense is good enough not to be overwhelmed, but Bama's D will make it too tough to score now matter how on point Jake Browning is.”
Paul Barrett
— Sports editor
41-27
Alabama
“I see the Huskie hitting on a big play or two from Jake Browning to John Ross, but Alabama should dominate on both sides of the ball and win comfortably, giving Nick Saban a chance at his sixth national title.”
Scott Hanson
— Assistant sports editor
41-10
Alabama
“The Huskies have not played a team even close to Alabama’s level, and the best team the Huskies did play, USC, beat them easily at Husky Stadium. I would love to be wrong, but I don’t see this game being close.”
Ed Guzman
— Assistant sports editor
23-21
Washington
“Jake Browning comes out re-energized and hits on a couple of big plays to John Ross to stun Alabama early, then the Huskies hang on for dear life to spring the upset. Hey, Nick Saban is only 10-8 in bowl games coming into this one, so it might not be that outlandish. ”