Washington State welcomes Utah State (GAME THREAD)

It’s been a while, but your Washington State Cougars are back home to welcome the Utah State Aggies for an all-night affair. The Cougs are no. 21st place in the first part of the College Football Playoff rankings thanks to a record of 7:1. And if everything goes as it should tonight, the Cougs will wake up tomorrow at 8-1.

The College Football Playoff odds are high, but it’s good that the Cougs are in the conversation.

But first! The Cougs will have to deal with a 2-6 Utah State team that is coming off a two-point victory over equally woeful Wyoming. The Aggies are, let’s just say, very bad. Their defense is getting shredded at the rate of 498 yards per game. There are only two teams worse than them on this side of the ball: Oklahoma State and historically bad Kent State.

There’s not much difference between their defense against the rush or the pass – they’re both terrible. And on the offensive side of the ball, leading receiver Jalen Royals is injured and out for the season.

Iowa native Spencer Petras is the quarterback and has 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions in six games. [Howard Cosell voice] However, the Aggies rank 13th nationally in offense with 458 yards per game. We’ll see if the Royals’ absence takes them a step further, but the WSU defense needs to be on its toes, as Utah State likes to do quickly.

The Cougs have enough weapons on offense to break through the porous Aggie defense. The return of Carlos Hernandez has given us a boost and this is the perfect opponent to get the running game going again.

It’s the Cougs and the Aggies. Talk about it here.

When

This is another late night as it starts at 7:30pm under the cool Pullman sky. Fun fact: This is the last college football game of the day. Let’s end on a high note.

Where

Gesa Field at Martin Stadium for the second to last time this season. There are still enough places available.

Here’s how to watch

Another one on The CW with Ted Robinson and Ryan Leaf in conversation.

The line

WSU -20.5, O/U is 69.5

Do you remember him?

In line for the Aggies is former WSU defensive lineman Lawrence Falatea, who spent three years at Pullman. Falatea played 14 games in the purple and gray, but missed all of last year due to injury before transferring to Utah State, which is much closer to his home in Sandy, Utah (I was there!). He has had limited playing time this season and has 15 total tackles, including two tackles for loss.