Washington State Football: 5 reasons Cougs beat Washington in Week 13

4. Washington State will minimize the Huskies’ red zone trips

One of the biggest Achilles heels for Washington State this season has come when opponents visit the red zone. Washington State ranks 117th in the country in red zone defense, situated among the bottom dozen in the country when opponents get inside the Cougars 20.

Things can’t get any worse for the Cougars, and on Friday at home they will turn things around for 60 minutes as they execute better than they have all season to date. That is especially true against a Washington squad that ranks 100th in the country in red zone offense.

The Huskies score on fewer than 80 percent of their trips inside opponents’ 20-yard lines, and that trend isn’t going to change on Black Friday.

Washington State is going to mitigate the opportunities for the Huskies to challenge their red zone defense by keeping visiting Washington outside the 20 altogether. They will shut down Petersen’s crew along the way, as they break out of a pattern of futility to emerge better in the red zone when it matters most.