Washington State Cougars Try to Keep it Rolling Against UCLA
By Ben Renner
The UCLA Bruins come to Pullman to face the red-hot Washington State Cougars tomorrow. How can the Cougs keep it rolling in the Pac-12?
The Washington State Cougars and the Washington Huskies are, at the moment, headed toward the most significant Apple Cup in recent memory. Both teams crushed perennial Pac-12 North powers Oregon and Stanford in successive games and if not for two inexplicable losses to nonconference foes, the Cougars would be a nationally-ranked team like UW.
But, to make it to this epic Apple Cup that I’m already excited for, the Washington State Cougars have to stay hot at home against the UCLA Bruins. Weather conditions for Martin Stadium are pure northwest: cold and rainy for the Washington State Cougars’ southern Californian guests.
Keys to the Game
The Washington State Cougars have to get pressure on UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen or backup and former walk-on Mike Fafaul. Rosen has had a great start to the season and is regarded as one of the best signal-callers in the conference but is listed as questionable for the game tomorrow because of leg and shoulder injuries. If the Cougs can keep up the excellent pressure they showed against Stanford last week, it could get ugly against poor Fafaul, who hasn’t started a college game or thrown a touchdown pass in one.
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The running game for both teams will likely be a large factor in the nasty winds and rain expected in Pullman tomorrow. The Bruins were awful running the ball against Arizona last week, totaling one yard fewer than I managed last Saturday sitting on my couch (that’s -1 yard rushing).
Head Coach Mike Leach might have to lean on his trio of running backs more than he normally does in his Air Raid offense. Look for Jamal Morrow, James Williams, and Gerard Wicks try to establish a run game early and often. When quarterback Luke Falk does throw the ball, he’ll have to be extra careful throwing a wet football around and avoid turnovers, which could keep the Bruins in this game longer than they need to be.
Prediction
Depending on who starts at quarterback for UCLA, it could be a blowout for the Washington State Cougars, but I’m going to take some points off the board for WSU because of the rain: 28-14 Cougs.