Colorado @ Washington State preview
Martin Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2012 ) Colorado 35, Washington State 34
Washington State has won seven games for the first time since 2003 and the 23rd-ranked Cougars will be looking for No. 8 late Saturday night when they host Colorado. Four of Washington State’s wins have come via fourth-quarter comebacks, including last week’s triumph at UCLA in which Gabe Marks’ diving touchdown reception with 3 seconds to play gave the Cougars’ a 31-27 victory.
Washington State also has overcome late deficits to beat Rutgers (37-34), Oregon (45-38 in double OT), and Arizona State (38-24), and at times it’s been too much excitement for coach Mike Leach. “We don't put people away earlier, and so we need to develop a personality to get that taken care of, but the other thing is we don't quit playing,” Leach said Monday at his weekly news conference. “We've done a very good job of not quitting and trying to seize the opportunity each play, and that's what's key.” Colorado has more often than not been coming up short in the close contests as last Friday’s 27-24 loss to USC became the fourth defeat by eight or fewer points this season. “(The players are) like me; they’re getting tired of hearing, ‘You’re so close,’ ” Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre told reporters after his team failed to protect a 17-3 lead against the Trojans. “I walked in here, and I just looked at my phone and I got all these texts, but you have to win those games. And we will, we will.”
TV: 10:45 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Washington State -15
ABOUT COLORADO (4-7, 1-6 Pac-12): The Buffaloes lost much more than a game Friday as quarterback Sefo Liufau suffered a Lisfranc foot injury in the second quarter and will miss the next 6-8 months of football, including spring drills. Freshman Cade Apsay filled in admirably, completing 18-of-23 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns, but once again it wasn’t enough for Colorado. The Buffs do possess the Pac-12’s second-ranked passing defense (217.9 yards per game), and that will need that to stand up against Washington State’s high-powered aerial attack.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (7-3, 5-2): That Cougars’ passing game is averaging an FBS-best 414.4 yards per game with sophomore quarterback Luke Falk also leading the Pac-12 in passing TDs (35) and total offense (395.7 yards). Falk has a full arsenal of weapons with eight players owning 20 or more receptions, led by Marks, a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist who has a Pac-12-most 81 receptions for 957 yards and 13 scores. Linebacker Peyton Pelluer (team-leading 8.4 tackles per game, 9.5 total tackles for loss) leads a Washington State defense which ranks eighth in the conference in both points (29.8) and total yards (431.3) allowed.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Colorado leads the series 5-3 after a 35-34 win in Pullman, Wash. in their last meeting on Sept. 22, 2012.
2. Washington State appeared this week in the top 25 poll for the first time since 2006.
3. With his two TD tosses last week, Falk eclipsed the school's single-season record of 34 held by Ryan Leaf and Connor Halliday.
PREDICTION: Washington State 41, Colorado 24