Before the start of Bowl season, we picked Michigan to defeat Washington in tonight’s game. However, after much reflection since, we’ve reversed our decision. We are going with Washington primarily because of QB Michael Penix, Jr. He just has a knack to win. He’s done it for UW, and we’ve seen him do it before.
Still questionable to this date, he broke our hearts in the opener of the Covid-limited 2020 season playing for Indiana. He officially scored past the left pylon on a dive to defeat Penn State, 36-35. IU finished the abbreviated season, 5-2. They defeated Michigan, but lost to Ohio State State, 42-25, and to Ole Miss in The Outback Bowl, 26-20. For Indiana, consider the result a great season. With Penix at QB, the averaged 28.9 points per game. From 2018-2021, in 16 games started for the Hoosiers, they won 11 of those games. Injuries shortened those seasons for him. In games not started by him, IU finished 5-12.
Penix in action
Indiana visited Western Kentucky in 2021. They came in at 1-2 against the Hilltoppers (1-1) who featured QB Bailey Zappe at QB who set and NCAA passing yard mark that season. WKU finished 9-5 that season and Zappe got drafted by the New England Patriots. We attended this rarity at Houchen-Smith LTD Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky. A Power Five visited a Group of Five. Penix got the Hoosiers off to a fast 14-0 lead. He completed 34 of 53 passes for 373 yards and two TDs. He snuck in for another. WKU mounted a comeback , but in the end, the visitors triumphed, 33-31.
Husky musher
A week later Penix got injured against Penn State and missed the rest of the 2021 season. In December, he transferred to Washington. In 2021, the Huskies had finished 4-8. After Penix arrived, he led them to an 11-2 record. The Huskies averaged 38.7 a game offensively compared to 21.5 the season before. Two losses came at UCLA and Arizona State respectively by eight and seven points. UW defeated strong Oregon on the road, 37-34, and defeated Texas in the Alamo Bowl, 27-20.
Penix has a knack for winning
In 2023, Washington has never looked back since the previous season finishing at No, 2 with a 14-0 record. Averaging 37.6 ppg, they defeated ranked teams along the way including Arizona, Oregon (twice) and Texas in the CFP Sugar Bowl. Seven games were won by one touchdown or less. Michigan has a tough defense allowing just over ten points per game. They held nine opponents to 10 points or less. In the last three of four starts against the likes of Maryland, Ohio State and Alabama, the Wolverines gave up 22 ppg. The Huskies have a good offensive line, good receivers in Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk. In our view, Penix gives Washington the edge. In a close one, he’ll find a way to win it. He always has.
