Seahawks players talk trash ahead of Washington, 'Bama matchup

Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed tackles Cardinals running back David Johnson for a loss during the second half at CenturyLink Field on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (GRANT HINDSLEY, seattlepi.com) Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed tackles Cardinals running back David Johnson for a loss during the second half at CenturyLink Field on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (GRANT HINDSLEY, seattlepi.com) Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY/SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY/SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Seahawks players talk trash ahead of Washington, 'Bama matchup 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

The Seattle Seahawks, just like the rest of us, are not immune to the tyranny of time and space.

Let me explain that ridiculous, overwrought statement:

The Seahawks play the San Francisco 49ers on the road Sunday in their 2016 regular-season finale. They won't have live television on their flight from Seattle to the Bay Area on Saturday. The afternoon flight time means the team will likely miss a large chunk of the Peach Bowl, which features No. 4 Washington taking on top-ranked Alabama starting at noon Pacific.

RELATED: What must Washington Huskies do to beat Alabama in Peach Bowl?

That will no doubt irk the four players whose alma maters will be playing in the first of the College Football Playoff semifinal games on Saturday, including three Huskies -- wide receivers Jermaine Kearse and Kasen Williams and fullback Marcel Reece.

The Crimson Tide boast just one Seahawks player in rookie defensive tackle Jarran Reed, but being outnumbered by Dawgs didn't shake his confidence any.

"We're going to win," Reed said on Wednesday. "I don't think. I know."

Reed didn't want to disparage Washington, but he seemed to think the Tide, who are two-touchdown favorites, wouldn't have much of a problem taking down the Huskies.

"They're a good team," Reed said of UW before apparently realizing he might want to be a little more effusive in his praise. "They're a great team or they wouldn't be where they're at now. But, I mean, it's Alabama."

He then laughed.

"Jarran's going to have to run that by me," Reece said when told of Reed's confidence. "Jarran and I are going to have to have a little wager on the game if he really believes that Alabama's going to take it that easy."

After a huge day on the ground against Colorado in the Pac-12 championship game, Reece said he expected Washington to be able to run the ball against Alabama even though the Crimson Tide led the nation in run defense, allowing under 64 yards per game.

"I think they're going to be able to surprise them with the run game," Reece said. "I don't think it's going to be a 200-yard showing like they did against Colorado, but I still think they're going to be able to run the ball efficiently against them. And that will be a surprise to Alabama, because no one's been able to do that to them in the last, maybe, decade."

Reece also expected Washington head coach Chris Petersen to come up with a trademark trick play or two for the Tide.

"I think they're going to be definitely well prepared," he said. "They're going to be definitely well coached. I think coach Petersen is going to have a surprise or two in there for Saban and the Alabama boys."

Win or lose, Reece said he was happy to see the Huskies back in the national spotlight.

"I used to take a lot of crap for them not winning as many games, and they had the 0-fer year after I left — after I left, I was not a part of that," Reece said, referring to UW's 0-12 2008 season. "But now I get to dish it out more than I take it, that's for sure."

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Two other rookies, tight end Nick Vannett and strong safety Tyvis Powell, played their college ball at Ohio State and should have no problem watching the third-ranked Buckeyes take on No. 2 Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday.

Just two years removed from playing in and winning the first ever College Football Playoff national championship in 2015, Vannett expected his Buckeyes to win a close game over the Tigers, even though he admitted he hadn't seen much of Clemson during the season.

"We've been here before, so I'm not really too worried about how they're going to end up playing," Vannett said. "I think they're going to do well."

Vannett identified fellow rookie Reed as the most vocal alum in the Seahawks locker room ahead of Sunday's CFP semifinal games.

"J-Reed's been talking a little (trash)," Vannett said. "We put some wagers on this game."

Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Seahawks news. Contact sports reporter Stephen Cohen at stephencohen@seattlepi.com or @scohenPI.