How will the Cougars fare in 2019?
Washington State has improved their record each of the last four seasons. This season’s schedule for the Cougars makes that outlook tough, with a neutral site game against Houston in Houston, Texas, at NRG Stadium. Not to mention, true road games against their toughest opponents in Oregon, Washington and Utah, all three games they’ll likely be the underdog in.
Here’s a game by game breakdown on the Cougars’ season:
- New Mexico State (W) — Cougars take care of business against the third best Aggies in college football.
- Northern Colorado (W) — This will be a blowout.
- vs. University of Houston (W) — This “neutral” site contest will be a shootout. Both teams come in with heavy firepower and suspect defenses, making this one of the best games of the year. I think the Cougars barely squeeze this one out, as Houston has New Year’s Six Bowl aspirations.
- UCLA (W) — UCLA will be better, but not that much better, Cougars take this one easily.
- at Utah (L) — First true road game of the season, and this is a tough one. I hope Salt Lake City is the GameDay site this week, with both teams unbeaten, but Utah is the better team, and will give Wazzu’s defense fits.
- at Arizona State (L) — Coming off a bye week, I wanted to pick the Cougars to win this one. But, remember what I said about Washington State’s run defense? It was awful, and Eno Benjamin is very good. Not to mention, if true freshman Jayden Daniels is starting, ASU will be able to control the clock on the ground and sneak out a win.
- Colorado (W) — Back at home and back on the winning side, Colorado is one of the worst teams in conference (not the worst, thanks to Oregon State).
- at Oregon (L) — Not that the Cougars are bad on the road, their road games are just incredibly difficult this season. CJ Verdell could have a field day in this one in another potential shootout.
- at Cal (W) — Finally a road win. Coming off a bye, despite Cal looking improved, the Cougars should handle this one just fine.
- Stanford (W) — Stanford’s rushing attack sucked last season, and I feel David Shaw lost a bit of the team’s identity. KJ Costello is really good, but the Cougars are the better team.
- Oregon State (W) — Oregon State was the worst power five team of all time last season by S&P+ rating. In a world with Kansas and Rutgers, the Beavers found lower. Cougars by 30.
- at Washington (L) — This rivalry has become one-sided of late, with the Huskies owning Cougars, winning the last six. Leach is 1-6 in the Apple Cup, and since Chris Peterson has been at Washington, the games haven’t been particularly close. Cougars will make this one a fight, but Huskies prevail again.
Prediction: 8-4, 5-4 Pac-12
I’ll set the Cougar win total at eight. Respectable for the Washington State program, and another bowl game to show for it, but not quite ready to win a Pac-12 title like they’ve been hoping for this season.