Arizona at No. 8 Washington State (Saturday 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Spread: Washington State -9.5
Washington State cannot get caught looking ahead to their Apple Cup showdown with Washington next week that will decide the PAC-12 North. The Cougars are probably just a win away from in the very least clinching a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game. They’d prefer Pasadena and the Rose Bowl, although the playoff isn’t out of reach at this point if there’s a chaotic final couple of weekends and the Cougars emerge unscathed.
QB Gardner Minshew has played himself into the Heisman Trophy race, and Washington State’s defense has taken strides every week to maintain the Cougars’ place in the Top 10. The defense has keyed their last two wins – a 19-13 win over Cal and a 31-7 win over Colorado. Their defense ranks 20th in the yards allowed, which is a scary proposition when teamed with a potent Mike Leach offense.
They’ll have their hands full on Saturday night against a resurgent Arizona squad that has righted the ship since Khalil Tate’s return from injury. The Wildcats are coming off of back-to-back wins – a bludgeoning of Oregon and an eight-point win over Colorado – on the heels of big performances from their junior QB.
Tate hasn’t been the unstoppable runner that we saw last season in Tucson, but give Kevin Sumlin some credit for Tate’s improvement as a passer. He has thrown eight touchdowns over the last two weeks, and has rescued Arizona from the depths. At 5-5, they need to upset Washington State on the road, or knock off rival Arizona State at home to garner bowl eligibility. Do both, and the Wildcats could improbably find themselves in the PAC-12 title game if Utah stumbles at Colorado this week.
Arizona has struggled mightily against the pass this season, ranking 91st in the nation in pass defense. That’ll be tough to reckon with against the nation’s top passing offense in Washington State.
It wouldn’t shock me to see this game come down to the wire, or for Arizona to pull the upset, but betting against Washington State this year has been a losing proposition.
Pick: Washington State 42, Arizona 31