Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has been keeping up on his city’s college squad this season.

Though the experts have No. 1 Alabama as heavy favorites against No. 4 Washington in the Peach Bowl, Carroll said the Huskies will be able to compete with the Crimson Tide, according to 710 ESPN Seattle:

“I don’t think you should think that they’re out of their league at all,” Carroll told 710 ESPN Seattle’s “Brock and Salk” on Monday morning. “Alabama’s a great team and (it has) great coaches and they’ve got a great program, but this (Huskies) team is well balanced and they’re able to take on a lot. They won’t be surprised by the style of offense. They’re gonna see a really, tough, strong, physical defense – it’s gonna be hard for them in that regard – but they have a lot of stuff that they can do, a lot of places they can go with this thing, so it’s going to be a heck of a matchup.”

Washington’s high-powered offense, led by QB Jake Browning, is something the Alabama defense hasn’t seen this season.

However, USC, a team the Crimson Tide demolished in Week 1, handed the Huskies their only loss this season.

It will be interesting to see what happens in Atlanta on Dec. 31 when the No. 4 Huskies share the field with the undefeated Crimson Tide.