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• Honestly, no. They won't. No one ever does these days. But does it really matter? They are among the best in the NFL. Last year's run to the title was memorable and magical. No one can take it away. But the NFL isn't built for back-to-back title, for dynasties, anymore. The salary cap hurts. So do injuries, a common occurrence in the league. Depth is always an issue as is an occasional game lost on a strange bounce or call. Happens to everyone. One team that was a walkover last season turns into the '85 Bears in this one. Teams that were Super Bowl contenders turn into doormats. Divisions that sent an under .500 champion to the playoffs one year is the toughest in the league just two years later. Then an injury or two, a suspension here, a suspension there, and the division is scrapping bottom again. There is no other professional sport that has more ups and downs than the NFL. It's the WallyWorld of the big leagues. So picking the Seahawks to repeat seems a bit ludicrious. However, we can think of at least five reasons why they will.

1. Russell Wilson is only getting better. It's a quarterback league. Even the team with the best defense needed Wilson to be who he was last season – an efficient, trustworthy leader who limited his mistakes and made the big play when needed – to win. Now they may need him to do even more. He can.
2. Percy Harvin is healthy. And as long as he stays that way, whether it be all season or just for the playoffs like last year, he's a difference maker. He's a guy the defenses have to account for on every play and that changes how they play. And helps everyone else on the offense.
3. The defense is still relatively intact. The big loss – literally – came up front where run-stuffer Red Bryant was let go due to money issues. But most of the rest of the defense that was in on the Super Bowl run is back, especially the key members Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and the underrated Bobby Wagner.
4. The special teams are special. Stephen Hauschka just doesn’t miss. Jon Ryan punts the way everyone should punt. The coverage and return guys understand their jobs and fill their roles with near-perfection. The hidden yardage from special teams isn't really hidden when you watch the Hawks. It's front and center for everyone to see.
5. Pete Carroll. Say what you will about Carroll – ya, we all sometimes wonder what his deal is – the guy learned how to win while he was at USC. And now that the NFL is becoming more and more an extension of the college game – or is it the other way round? – Carroll seems perfect for his job. No matter what you think of the guy, the players, his players, respect him and that matters.

There are other reasons sure, but those are my big five. You might have yours. Heck, you probably have just as many why they won't repeat. I have a list too. It only has one thing on it. No one repeats in the NFL anymore. Enough said.

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• WSU: The world of college football is always pretty incestuous. There are connections everywhere. But Friday's game between WSU and Nevada features some pretty deep ties. Jacob Thorpe covers the key one in today's paper as he writes about Cougar assistant Jim Mastro (pictured), who spent a great deal of his career in Reno. ... Jacob also has a practice report on the blog, along with the news the Oregon game is a sellout, a live chat he held yesterday and today's morning post with links. ... Who will win this weekend? The ESPN.com Pac-12 blog folks make their picks and they all pick WSU. However, it is the upset special game. ... There is also a mailbag.

• EWU: Jim Allen is happy to write this: For once, Vernon Adams won't be the quarterback under the most scrutiny. Nope, this week that honor goes to Washington's Cyler Miles. ... Jim also has a morning post with links.

• Idaho: Believe it or not, the Florida debacle has been worked out. And Idaho seems to be the big winner. The game was declared a "no-contest," which led to a bunch of social media jokes. Idaho will receive all the money it was guaranteed. And the teams will meet in 2017. John Blanchette has all that and more in this story and blog post.

• Indians: Spokane had a golden opportunity to put a stranglehold on its NWL series with Vancouver. But the Indians couldn't come through with a key hit and lost the opener 1-0. Chris Derrick was there and has this game story and blog post. ... Hillsboro had no trouble with Boise and will be awaiting the winner of the series.

• Shock: All of you who were sure the Shock were leaving town soon – ya, my hand is up – may have to wait awhile. The team announced a long-term lease agreement with the Arena yesterday. Jim Meehan has the story and more in this blog post.

• Preps: It's Thursday. School is in session. That means we have prep news. We start with Greg Lee's column on the football season. And we add his picks with Sam Adams and five games this season a true prep football fan shouldn't miss.

• Seahawks: The season begins. Green Bay comes to Seattle for a prime-time matchup. A much-improved Green Bay. If the Seahawks are to win tonight, it will take some doing. And who will be doing it? Well, watch these things and check out these keys. ... But, really, the Hawks will do what they do. It's a bit old school in some ways, but it is effective. ... There are players missing, new players coming and all that roster and injury stuff. ... There are some folks in the Bay Area who are not happy by the way the 49ers are dealing with their problem children.

• Mariners: Didn't we just say solo home runs don't beat you? Well, they do if you, Jon Lester, give up two and Felix Hernandez gives up just one. Thanks to Kyle Seager and, don't laugh, Corey Hart, hit back-to-back dingers and the M's won 2-1 in Oakland. That gave Seattle the series. ... Endy Chavez has done everything he's been asked.

• Sounders: There was no way Seattle was going to let this one slip away. The Sounders scored four times in the first half and breezed to a 4-2 win over Chivas in Los Angeles. The onslaught was keyed by Obafemi Martins' goal 11 minutes in. ... The Chivas folks were embarrassed. The Sounders liked it – and like the nine points they've earned in the last three games.

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• Sorry this is a bit late this morning. Sometimes life intervenes. Until later ...