Washington State (8-5 SU/6-7 ATS in 2016)
May 1 Power Rating: 81.45 (#26)
Returning Starters: 16 (7 offense, 9 defense)
Key Losses: WR Gabe Marks, WR River Cracraft, C Riley Sorenson, RG Eduardo Middleton, NT Robert Barber and NB Shalom Luani
2017 Recruiting Class Rank: #44
2016 Season Recap: Fresh off a 9-win season in 2015, expectations were fairly high for the Cougars last year (season win total was 7.5 at South Point). However, for the second straight season, Washington State lost outright as a 4-TD favorite to an FCS school in the season opener. However, just like in 2015, the Cougars would rebound in a big way. First, they nearly pulled off the upset at Boise State. After a blowout win and cover over Idaho, the Cougars hammered Oregon at home. In one of their most impressive performances in recent memory, Washington State won at Stanford 42-16 as 7-point underdogs. However, that shocking score inflated their point spreads and while Washington State would beat UCLA, Arizona State and Oregon State, they failed to cover in all three. The Cougars then hammered Arizona and California by a combined 125-28. That gave Washington State eight straight wins (longest win streak since 1930). However, the Cougars would lose to eventual Pac-12 South Champ Colorado on the road and then were blown out in the Apple Cup against rival Washington with the North division title on the line. The bowl game furthered the Cougars’ woes as they were upset by a short-handed Minnesota team 17-12.
Offense Per Game Rank
Scoring 38.2 18
Rushing 120.0 114
Passing 362.5 3
Total 482.5 18
Defense Per Game Rank
Scoring 26.4 50
Rushing 134.2 29
Passing 271.7 112
Total 405.9 62
Washington St (SU: 8-5, ATS: 6-7, O/U: 7-6)
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
W/L
|
Line
|
Score
|
Total
|
9/3
|
E Washington
|
L
|
-27.5
|
42-45
|
o77
|
9/10
|
at Boise St
|
W
|
+12.5
|
28-31
|
u73
|
9/17
|
Idaho
|
W
|
-27.5
|
56-6
|
u69
|
10/1
|
Oregon
|
W
|
+2
|
51-33
|
o75.5
|
10/8
|
at Stanford
|
W
|
+7
|
42-16
|
o55.5
|
10/15
|
UCLA
|
L
|
-7
|
27-21
|
u52.5
|
10/22
|
at Arizona St
|
L
|
-7.5
|
37-32
|
o64.5
|
10/29
|
at Oregon St
|
L
|
-14
|
35-31
|
o57
|
11/5
|
Arizona
|
W
|
-16.5
|
69-7
|
o66
|
11/12
|
California
|
W
|
-17
|
56-21
|
u81
|
11/19
|
at Colorado
|
L
|
+6
|
24-38
|
o59.5
|
11/25
|
Washington
|
L
|
+6.5
|
17-45
|
u63
|
12/27
|
† Minnesota
|
L
|
-9.5
|
12-17
|
u61
|
2017 Outlook: The Cougars return seven starters from an offense that was Top 20 in the country in total and scoring. They are led by QB Luke Falk who completed 70-percent of his passes for 4,468 yards with a 38-11 TD-to-INT ratio. The RB corps returns their top three guys back led by James Williams (584 yards) and Jamal Morrow (575 yards).
The Cougars do take a hit in the receiving corps as they lose Gabe Marks (894 yards, 13 TD’s) and River Cracraft (701 yards). The unit will be led by Tavares Martin Jr who had 728 receiving yards a year ago. The offensive line does welcome back three starters led by 2016 unanimous All-American Cody O’Connell (6-8 370!) at left guard.
The defense has improved the last couple of seasons under D.C. Alex Grinch and last year’s 26.4 ppg allowed was their best mark since 2006. This year’s unit could be even better as they return 9 of their top 10 tacklers led by LB Peyton Pelluer (93 tackles) and DL Hercules Mata’afa who had 13.5 tackles for loss.
On special teams, kicker Erik Powell is back after making 9 of 15 FG’s a year ago and the Cougars also return punter Kyle Sweet who averaged 38.2 yards per punt.
Projected Starting Line-up
Offense:
QB #4 Luke Falk 6-4 225 Sr
RB #25 Jamal Morrow 5-9 200 Sr
WR #8 Tavares Martin Jr 6-1 183 Jr
WR #15 Robert Lewis 5-9 170 Sr
WR #17 Kyle Sweet 6-0 192 Jr
WR #5 Isaiah Johnson-Mack 6-3 218 So
LT #60 Andre Dillard 6-5 310 Jr
LG #76 Cody O’Connell 6-8 370 Sr
C #69 Frederick Mauigoa 6-3 305 So
RG #75 B.J. Salmonson 6-4 300 Sr
RT #61 Cole Madison 6-5 315 Sr
Defense:
DE #50 Hercules Mata’afa 6-2 255 Jr
DT #90 Daniel Ekuale 6-3 297 Sr
DE #30 Nnamdi Oguayo 6-3 229 So
RUSH #33 Dylan Hanser 6-4 231 Sr
MLB #47 Peyton Pelluer 6-0 228 Sr
WLB #51 Frankie Luvu 6-2 240 Sr
NB #26 Hunter Dale 5-10 195 Jr
CB #37 Marcus Strong 5-9 175 So
SS #34 Jalen Thompson 6-0 190 So
FS #2 Robert Taylor 5-10 183 Sr
CB #3 Darrien Molton 5-10 181 Jr
Top 5 Incoming Recruits:
4-star WR Jamire Calvin 5-10 160
3-star OL Abraham Lucas 6-7 260
3-star OL Robert Valencia 6-6 295
3-star QB Connor Neville 6-2 185
3-star DB Josh Talbott 6-0 180
2017 Schedule With Early Projected Lines
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
9/2
|
Montana St
|
-35
|
9/9
|
Boise St
|
-7
|
9/16
|
Oregon St
|
-11
|
9/23
|
Nevada
|
-28
|
9/29
|
USC
|
+7
|
10/7
|
at Oregon
|
+5
|
10/13
|
at California
|
-6
|
10/21
|
Colorado
|
-7
|
10/28
|
at Arizona
|
-6
|
11/4
|
Stanford
|
+2
|
11/11
|
at Utah
|
PK
|
11/18
|
Bye
|
|
11/25
|
at Washington
|
+13
|
Schedule Analysis: The 2017 schedule is quite manageable for the Cougars as they start off the season with five straight home games. After the last two season openers have been complete disasters, it’s fair to assume the Cougars will be on “upset alert” vs FCS Montana State. In week two, Washington State gets a revenge game vs Boise State at home where they will be favored in and they’ll also be favored in their Pac-12 opener against Oregon State. After what should be an easy-win over Nevada, the Cougars get preseason Pac-12 favorite USC at home where they figure to be a TD underdog. Washington State will also most likely be an underdog at Oregon the following week. However, the Cougars then have three winnable conference games at California, vs Colorado and at Arizona where they figure to be a TD favorite in all three. Their next two games will be toss-ups as they host Stanford and then travel to Utah. After a bye week, the Cougars travel to Washington in what will be their largest underdog role of the season. Overall, I have Cougars favored in seven games. It will all depend on how they do in the toss-up games as 8 of their 12 games are currently listed with a line at a TD or less. I’d set the Washington State season win total around 7.5.