#14 Washington State vs. #24 Stanford: Stream, keys, and predictions
Prediction
One of the hottest teams in college football is in the top 15 and is knocking on the door of the top 10 and possible discussions about a place in the College Football Playoff by season’s end.
The win for the Cougars last week was more than just a win. It was a feel good moment as the program got national recognition all the way from the Pacific Northwest. Built with an elite passing game and an underrated defense, Washington State is built to make a legit postseason run.
But what if that win over Oregon last week mentally exhausted the Cougars? On the road against a respectable Stanford program can result in a loss if the Cougars are not focused as this has trap game written all over it. Stanford head coach David Shaw is known for having his team playing consistently for all four quarters and he will undoubtedly have his bunch ready at home against Washington State.
The winner here is in play in the Pac-12 North division and a true contender for the Pac-12 championship. A truly healthy Love is capable of taking over and gashing defenses to the tune of rhythmic Stanford football. The team may rely on Costello some more but SOMETHING must come from the run game in order for Stanford to win.
The Stanford defense is stingy when it comes to allowing opposing points on the board. Can they effectively pressure Minshew while also executing a mixture of coverages against a diverse passing game? I honestly feel that the defense will make a few plays Minshew and the Cougars offense and it’s tough to ignore the mental state of Washington State in this one. A scrappy Cougars team will scratch and claw their way to victory but it will not be easy by any means.