What do the Cougars need to do to beat Arizona? Also, Stefanie Loh's game prediction.
WSU Gameday
Cougars vs. Arizona
WSU Players to watch
- QB Luke Falk – 21 pass TD
- WR Gabe Marks – 103 rec yards per game
- WR Dom Williams – 6 rec TD
- FS Shalom Luani – 3 INT
- DL Darryl Paulo – 7.5 TFL
Arizona Players to watch
- QB Anu Solomon – 13 pass TD, 0 INT
- QB Jerrard Randall – 5 rush TD
- RB Jared Baker – 7.8 yards per carry
- Safety Will Parks – 6 pass breakups
- MLB Jake Matthews – 1.5 sacks, 2 TFL
1 p.m. Pac-12 Networks
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Contain the QB
Running quarterback Jerrard Randall is second on the team in rushing, with 535 rushing yards. If the Cougars let him get into a rhythm, it’s game over.
Strike in the red zone
WSU has an 88.9 percent success rate in the red zone. Arizona has stopped an opponent in the red zone only once this season. Cougs need to exploit that and keep the touchdowns rolling.
Pick apart the Arizona secondary
It’s possible that two of the Wildcats’ starting defensive backs could be held out of the game with injuries. If so, Arizona will be young and vulnerable through the air. And when you’re facing an Air Raid offense that is averaging 398.5 passing yards a game, that spells trouble.
Play disciplined defense
Mike Leach expressed his displeasure this week at how his much-improved defense occasionally still reverts to “street ball” mode, and “All of a sudden you’ve got some guy who wants to do his own thing. He’s going to worry about the other guy’s job. Or as Leach put it using this gem of a “don’t-touch-the-hot-pot-on-the-stove” metaphor, “ There’s a point where it’s just like some kid that’s wondering if something’s hot and sticking his hand on it. So we’ve got a bunch of guys that need to let the blisters heal and not get blisters again.” Moral of the story: Stick to your responsibility. Don’t touch the hot pot even when it looks tempting.
Prediction:
WSU 48, Arizona 45 OT