Let’s get one thing straight: If you want Fair and Balanced, Google is your friend. I’m a Cougar, born and bred. Get over it or get on.
The Line: Utah by 1
Weather: Fair and Breezy. High of 68F (20C) No excuses.
Last Game: WSU pissed away a win at USC last week. 39-36
Utah got clobbered at Washington. 21-7 It wasn’t that close.
This looks like a classic good offense v good defense game. WSU is putting up great numbers on offense even by their standards. They’ve passed for over 350 yards and scored at least 30 in all 4 games this season. Utah held a pretty good Husky team to 21.
The absolute key to the game seems to be the WSU defense against the Utah offense. Can Utah score enough against a relatively weak Coug D to win this game? Can the Coug defense hold a relatively anemic Utah offense a few times? I’m pretty sure they’d be happy to trade FGs for Touchdowns all day.
WSU is led by grad transfer Gardner Minshew who has an impressive stat line. 154 of 217, 1,547 yds., 11 TDs.
Minshew played his first three seasons at East Carolina and had committed to play at Alabama this season. Actually he committed to being a backup when Jalen Hurt was rumored to be leaving early, with a year as a Grad Assistant thrown in. Mike Leach simply asked him how he’d like to be the leading passer in the nation. Welcome to Pullman Gardner.
The Utah D carries some of the best numbers in the nation into this game including pass defense efficiency, total yards allowed, scoring allowed and passing yards. Something has to give.
Utah has a history of turning the ball over for WSU, and the Cougs are pretty good at keeping it this season. The cliche ‘the team that wins the turnover battle’ might actually come into play today.
WILD CARD: Peyton Pelluer. WSUs 6th year linebacker got the extra year after an injury last season. He’s the emotional leader of this team with 26 tackles and 1 sack so far this season. He plays every game like it might be his last so might make the big play needed today.
My Call: WSU 31 Utah 20. Did anybody really think I’d pick against the Cougs? Really?
Thanks for looking: GO COUGS!
BONUS TIME: Mike Leach is the best quote in the NCAA. This one is my absolute fav.
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