Washington State vs. San José State Prediction: Fresh Off Apple Cup Win, Cougars Host Surprising Spartans
Washington State and San José State have been two of the bright spots of the early college football season, each starting 3-0. They will play on Friday night in Pullman, fresh off of the news that Washington State's Pac-12 has effectively raided San José State's conference , the Mountain West.
The Pac-12 news comes as a reaction to the departure of Washington State's in-state rival, Washington, leaving the league for the Big Ten along with Oregon, UCLA and USC. Wazzu beat Washington last week in the first Apple Cup since that departure, in what has to be one of the program's biggest wins in recent memory. Now the Spartans find themselves in a situation similar to the one the Cougars had been in, with their football future uncertain due to the many shifts across the country. They don't have the same relationship to Washington State as the Cougars do to the Huskies, but an upset win on the road would be significant for the program.
The two programs have played 13 times, with Washington State owning an 8-4-1 lead in the series. Wazzu has won the last two matchups, with the most recent game being a 31-0 home win in 2018. SJSU's last win came in 1986.
Washington State vs. San José State
Location: Gesa Field at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wa. Kickoff: Friday, Sept. 20 at 10 p.m. ET TV: The CW Spread: Washington State -13.5 Over/Under: Announcers: J.B. Long, Michael Bumpus and Camryn Irwin
Why Washington State Will Win
The Cougars are fueled by their fearless quarterback, John Mateer. He's not the most accurate thrower, with a completion percentage just under 53%, but he's averaging a very efficient 10.2 yards per attempt, with 712 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions on the year. He is also Wazzu's leading threat on the ground, with 314 yards and four touchdowns, though Wayshawn Parker has also been effective (214 yards, 7.4 YPA, 2 touchdowns). The Cougars spread it out through the air, with three receivers at 165 yards or more on the season: Kyle Williams, Kris Hutson and Josh Meredith. The offense is ahead of the defense, but the Cougs have held back-to-back Power 4 opponents - Texas Tech and Washington - to under 20 points. It was bend, don't break against the Huskies, but that win still came against perhaps the most talented opponent WSU will see all season. San José State has been impressive so far, but this is a giant leap ahead from the competition it has faced thus far.
Why San José State Will Win
Get ready to unlearn everything you thought you new about a Ken Niumatalolo-coached team. The former Navy coach has not only gone away from the triple-option attack that made him incredibly successful in Annapolis, but his Spartans aren't running the ball mich at all. They're averaging under two yards per carry (with sack stats included), and rank 131st in rushing offense nationally.
What the Spartans can do is throw the ball all over the yard. Emmett Brown is 10th nationally with 915 passing yards and tied for fourth with nine touchdowns. Wide receiver Nick Nash has put up remarkable numbers. His 34 receptions, 485 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns all lead FBS. Washington State has largely held teams out of the end zone, but is allowing over 300 yards per game passing.
Final Analysis
SJSU has made great strides in year one under Ken Niumatalolo, but they've done so against a very easy schedule, with a rebuilding Air Force team serving as the toughest opponent thus far. Bowl contention is an exciting, reachable goal for this team after losing coach Brent Brennan to Arizona. Beating a good Washington State team is a step too far.
Prediction: Washington State 31, San José State 17
Who do you think will win Friday's game? Sound off in the comments below.
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This story was originally published September 19, 2024, 9:00 PM.
