Washington State comes out of its bye week with a rare role reversal.
After spending much of the season as an underdog, the Cougars are 9 1/2-point favorites at home Saturday night against Colorado State, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Pacific time at Gesa Field.
The number reflects more than just home-field advantage. Washington State coach Kirby Moore said on the “WSU Football Coaches Show” with SWX Local Sports on Sunday that the bye week was used for a reset.
“Execution and finishing,” first-year WSU coach Kirby Moore said on the “WSU Football Coaches Show” with SWX Local Sports on Sunday.
That has been part of the issue for a Cougars team sitting at 1-8, but the matchup also lines up with a Colorado State defense that has struggled all season. The Rams enter at 3-6, and their defense is described as the weakest unit in the conference.
This is also a familiar series for Washington State, which has taken three straight against Colorado State this decade. The Cougars won last year’s meeting 20-3 on the road as a 5 1/2-point favorite. The first game between the teams came in the New Mexico Bowl, where Colorado State won 48-45 in 2013.
Saturday will be the fifth meeting overall, and Washington State has been favored in every one of them.
The Cougars’ recent track record against the spread has been mixed. They are 5-4 ATS overall, and since the Oct. 3 home game against Fresno State, when they were favored for the last time and lost 26-6, they have gone 2-2 ATS as an underdog.
They covered against Utah State (+3.5) and Oregon State (+19.5), but came up short against Boise State (+13.5) and San Diego State (+2.5). That San Diego State game was their last outing before the bye, a 26-20 road loss.
At home, Washington State is 2-2 against the spread. Its last home cover came Sept. 26, when it was a 10 1/2-point underdog to Arizona in a 34-24 loss.
The total for Saturday’s game is 67 1/2 points, the highest number on the board for any game this season.
Around the conference, all eight Pac-12 teams are in action Saturday, including the matchup between Oregon State and Boise State. The early Week 11 betting lines in Pacific Time are:
Fresno State (+8.5) at Texas State, 1 p.m. Saturday (The CW)
Oregon State (+10.5) at Boise State, 3 p.m. Saturday (USA Network)
Utah State (-1.5) at San Diego State, 6:30 p.m. Saturday (USA Network)
Colorado State (+9.5) at Washington State, 7:30 p.m. Saturday (CBS Sports Network)
Washington State On SI’s prediction is that this could be the week the Cougars finally break through after the bye.
Is this the week for the Cougars to get off the schneid? It has to be.
They should be well-rested from the bye week. Self-evaluation hopefully cleans up a few areas.
It’s their time.