Michigan State football: 5 bold predictions for the Holiday Bowl vs Washington State

2. Cougars will not be motivated

Washington State was cruising along at mid-season. At 6-0, including a win against then number five USC, the Cougars were the favorites to win the Pac-12 North. Then things fell apart and they lost three out of their last six games.

The bad second half of the season started against Cal. The Cougars were ranked eighth heading into the game against the Bears, their highest ranking in 14 years. The Bears proceeded to force seven turnovers and delivered an outstanding defensive performance, shellacking the Cougars 37-3. Mike Leach’s team never seemed to fully recover after the horrible performance.

The Cougars still had a chance to make the Pac-12 Championship game entering the final week, but laid an egg against rival Washington in the Apple Cup. Now they have ended up in the same bowl they were in last year. While they lost to Minnesota a year ago, it is hard to see how motivated they will be to play in this game.

Must Read: Washington State Football: 5 takeaways from 2017 regular season

In addition to landing in the Holiday Bowl again, Leach also flirted with the Tennessee job and nearly inked a deal to become the Vols next coach, according to some reports. Of course, we all know how the Vols coaching search turned into a dumpster fire and Leach ultimately stayed in Pullman. But the question is still there how committed Leach is to the program, despite signing a new deal.

When it comes to motivation, the Cougars do not appear ready to be back in San Diego for another December bowl game. Michigan State, on the other hand, wants to make a final statement on their comeback season.