Arizona’s latest chance to get right against the spread comes on the road in Pullman.
The Wildcats have been doing everything except cashing tickets through three weeks. They beat Northern Illinois 42-17 as a 32-plus-point favorite and still came up short of a cover for the third straight game, leaving Arizona as one of six power conference teams yet to cover ATS.
Now Brent Brennan’s team heads to Washington State on Saturday with a 12.5-point edge, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 49.5 points, and kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. MST on CBS.
There’s some recent history between these former Pac-12 programs, even with Washington State now in the new-look league. Arizona rolled to a 44-6 win in Pullman in 2023, but that result snapped a rough stretch in the matchup. The Cougars had taken five of the six meetings before that, and Arizona’s previous win in Pullman before 2023 came all the way back in 2014.
Brennan has seen Washington State before, too. His only game against the Cougars as San Jose State’s head coach ended in a 31-0 loss in Pullman in 2018.
Washington State comes in at 1-2 under first-year coach Kirby Moore and is fresh off a 48-7 win over FCS Duquesne. The Cougars have been a better team against the number, going 2-1 ATS with covers against Duquesne and in their season-opening loss to Washington.
But the broader numbers have been rough against FBS opponents. Washington State has been outscored by 41 points in those games, falling 24-10 to Washington in Week 1 and 34-7 to Kansas State in Week 2.
Offensively, the Cougars have struggled to throw the ball. They’re averaging just 134 passing yards per game, with sophomore transfer quarterback Caden Pinnick accounting for 403 passing yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also done damage as a runner, adding 166 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
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Arizona Defense Faces A New Test From Washington State's Ground Game
Washington States offense gave Arizona a fresh reason to pay attention after its opener, leaning on the run in a way the Cougars have not done in a long time. Against Duquesne, the ground game controlled the game from the start and turned into the kind of performance that can change how a defense prepares for the next week, especially when a team is still trying to establish identity in the trenches.
For Arizona, the challenge is less about what the Cougars did once and more about whether that kind of physical push is becoming part of the plan. Washington States coaches have already pointed to run-blocking as a point of emphasis, and the Wildcats will have to sort out how to handle a backfield that can stay fresh and punish missed fits if the lane stays open. [Read more 🡒]
Noah Fifita's Arizona Legacy Just Added Another Milestone
Noah Fifita kept adding to his place in Arizona history during the win over Northern Illinois, when a routine completion in the fourth quarter pushed him past Nick Foles for the Wildcats' career passing yards record. The milestone fit the broader arc of his career in Tucson, where he has already become the program's benchmark for touchdown passes and continues to stack accomplishments while leading Arizona's offense.
Fifita's latest number sits at 10,017 career passing yards, and his 80 touchdown passes remain the standard for the Wildcats. With the season still moving along, he is also on pace to challenge additional Arizona records for completions and attempts, giving this record book chase a little more room to grow before it is finished. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Had To Adjust Fast As Key Absences Hit Northern Illinois
Arizona had to sort through some late changes before facing Northern Illinois, with defensive lineman Mays Pese and wide receiver Gio Richardson ruled out and linebacker Chase Kennedy listed as a game-time decision. The absences forced the Wildcats to keep adjusting on both sides of the ball, the kind of pregame shuffle that can alter rotations and special teams plans before a snap is even taken.
There was also a wrinkle in the secondary, where another absence left Arizona needing a different look in the lineup. With a start lined up in that spot, the Wildcats entered the game trying to settle things quickly and avoid letting the personnel issues spill into the flow of a matchup that was already turning into a detailed, possession-by-possession battle. [Read more 🡒]