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

1. Gardner Minshew will deconstruct the Washington secondary

Since coming over from East Carolina as a graduate transfer, quarterback Gardner Minshew has been ridiculously well-suited for Mike Leach’s offense. The passer has fit Leach’s Air Raid offense like a glove, as he leads the country with an average of nearly 400 yards per game as he completes more than 70 percent of his passes.

Minshew has not thrown for fewer than 300 yards in any single game for Washington State yet this season. That will not change against Washington, despite the fact the Huskies defense is giving up fewer than 200 yards per game. Minshew is going to carve them up in a way that Luke Falk and other previous Washington State quarterbacks have never been able to pull off against Washington.

A dark-horse Heisman candidate is going to do his best to earn a trip to Santa Clara on Friday, and in the process he could also be ensuring himself of an invitation to the Downtown Athletic Club the weekend after the Pac-12 Championship Game.

There is little, ultimately, that Washington is going to be able to do on Friday against the Cougars. Thanks to both their offensive productivity and their defensive prowess, Mike Leach’s team will win the Apple Cup and the Pac-12 North as they end a five-game skid against the Huskies.