Pac-12 Football Picks: Predictions against the spread for Week 1

Jul 31, 2015; Burbank, CA, USA; Washington State Cougars coach Mike Leach at Pac-12 Media Day at Warner Bros. Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Washington State Cougars vs Portland State Vikings

Martin Stadium, Pullman, Washington

The Line: No Line

This game in Pullman, featuring an FBS school and a program that has not had a winning season since 2003, is not exactly must-see TV this weekend. In fact, it is so important that Las Vegas does not even have odds posted for it. If you are a die hard Cougars fan and you have to watch it, it will be on the Pac-12 Network at 11:00 AM, Pacific Time on Saturday. That seems an odd time for a summer football game, but maybe it was the only way Washington State could get on national TV.

Keys To The Game:

Last year the Cougars were one of the most prolific passing offenses in the nation, which should please head coach Mike Leach and his “Air Raid” style of offense he brought to prominence at Texas Tech. However, they finished just 7th in the conference in scoring offense and dead last running the ball at a ridiculously low 39.8 yards per game. The defense was also less than stellar, giving up 442 yards per game and almost 39 points.

Only Colorado and California gave up more points than the Cougars last year. Suffice it to say that the key to the game will be for Washington State’s new quarterback, redshirt-sophomore Luke Falk to be efficient with the ball and not turn it over. Even the bottom of the Pac-12 conference boasts quality athletes who are just too big, strong, and fast for an FBS program like Portland State, so as long as the Cougars do not make mistakes, they should win easily.

Prediction:

The Vikings of Portland State got waxed last year in Pullman, 59-21, and I expect a similar result this year. Portland State is just not a good program right now, and this game serves as nothing more than an opportunity for their players to get on TV and for the program to receive a nice pay day.

A new quarterback will be throwing the ball, but the Cougar offensive line might be one of the best in the conference, and Falk should have plenty of time to throw. Look for Washington State to roll in this one, 42-14.

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