Washington State Football: 3 Bold Predictions for Cougs vs Utah

3. Mike Leach is Happy with His Cougs

Mike Leach isn’t an easy head coach to please. Leach has called his Washington State teams a number of things in the past few years including a JUCO softball team, and has complained about their toughness, heart, and focus at times since taking over in Pullman, Washington.

However, Mike Leach will cut down on the harshness and at times will praise his squad when he feels they’ve improved. He did so after the Stanford win. He also told the team that nothing that’s easy is fun. I think he’ll enjoy a close game against the Utes on the road and seeing Luke Falk overcome adversity rather than crumble in it.

I think putting Washington State in the Pac 12 North conversation at nine wins will make Mike Leach very happy and a road win against a competitive foe will prove that toughness Leach wants in his Cougs. I don’t see Washington State scoring a ton of points against a ball control defensive minded Utes squad but I don’t see Utah being able to move the football at all against Alex Grinch’s defense. This will be a 17-6 type of ball game and Mike Leach will take a hard-nosed win on the road.

This Week 11 match-up is has massive implications for the Pac 12 title game. Iif Wazzou can beat Utah their Nov. 25 game against the Huskies will be even more important than just bragging rights in the Apple Cup. The Huskies are the S&P+’s third ranked team and they won’t share the same bye week that Washington State has heading into their rivalry weekend match-up. The Huskies will face the Colorado Buffaloes the week leading up to rivalry week.