Colorado Buffaloes (4-3 SU, 3-4 ATS) at No. 15 Washington State (6-1 SU, 4-3 ATS)
College Football Week 8
Date/Time: Saturday, October 21, 10:45PM ET
Where: Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA.
TV: ESPN
by Wilson, NCAA Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: COL +10.5/WSU -10.5
Over/Under Total: 56.5
Every year there seems to be a huge shake up in the top 25. Well, this year so far it was last week as four of the top ten ranked teams lost. No. 2 Clemson lost to Syracuse, No. 5 University of Washington lost to Arizona State, No. 10 Auburn lost to LSU, and No. 8 Washington State lost to California 37-3 in a complete blowout in Berkeley. WSU Head Coach Mike Leach was furious with his teams effort and he wasnt shy about letting everyone know during his press conference following the game. We were a bunch of pathetic front-runners. Leach said among other ranting phrases demeaning his players. To Cals credit, they showed up and played as well as they have all season. Cal QB Ross Bowers, had a breakout night and capped it off with a spectacular rushing touchdown where he did a full front flip over WSU defenders and landed in the end zone for the score. Ironically, he did the same thing in his Washington State 4A High School Championship game when he played for Bothell High School in Seattle. Not surprising, Bowers mom is the former Head Coach of Gymnastics at the University of Washington. However, the big question coming into this weeks game is, can the Cougs regroup and put together a decent effort against the incoming Buffaloes from Colorado?
WSU QB, Luke Falk looked like an entirely different QB versus California than the player recently mentioned as a Heisman hopeful. Falk had a dismal night versus Cal and at times one wondered if Coach Leach would go with his backup QB but he never did. Sometimes we forget that these players are still kids (even though Falk is a 5th year senior) he is still considered a young man and hes not the only one to lay the blame onit takes an entire team to crash the way the Cougs did against Cal. Other top teams lost last weekend too but none by such a huge margin, 34 points! The Cougar Defense will definitely need to come back this Saturday and prove they can handle adversity by making adjustments and simply playing better football. Colorado is coming off of their first Pac 12 win and seeking another in the Palouse.
Colorados QB Steven Montez has connected a lot with his WR Bryce Bobo which has fueled Colorados offense as of late. Bobo has 40 receptions and five touchdowns on the season while CU RB, Phillip Lindsay has 178 carries, 10 TDs, and nearly a thousand yards rushing this season. This offense can certainly get going and the 36-33 road win at Oregon State last week may have been the spark these Buffaloes need as they travel to Washington State for yet another road game. However, defensively, the Buffaloes have had issues slowing teams down especially in the running gameand WSU has a decent rushing attack to accompany their (aside from last week) high powered Air Raid passing game. As we all learned last weekend, it is anyones game in the Pac 12, heck, in all of D1 college football, any team is capable of being knocked off. The WSU Cougars will need to shake off the funk they were in at Berkeley last weekend and defend their undefeated record at home this season as they take on Colorado. Can they respond to their coachs tirade of insults which surely was meant to motivate rather than demean but only time will tell.
The Westgate Super Book in Las Vegas has the early line on this contest at WSU -10.5 and as of this writing the Total is 56.5. I like the Cougars to recover this week after being embarrassed on ESPN nationwide. Other offshore sports books have similar lines, so keep an eye on any movements as the week progresses. As much as I like WSU to get it together back at home I think Colorado plays the Cougs tough by keeping it closer than most think–+10.5 is a bit generous for a team thats starting to click and if their defense can contain WSUs running game the Buffaloes could be a pain in the paws for the Cougs. I like Colorado to cover on the road.
I like Colorado to cover the points on the road.
Wilson’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: The Buffaloes cover the spread. Luck to ya and btw, where are you betting this game? Bet it for FREE by taking advantage of a 50% welcome bonus offered to new players at Bovada Sportsbook
