Martin Stadium will give the Cougars a real home-field boost — cloudy, calm conditions in the upper 50s, nothing weather-wise to lean on either way — and a first-year staff installing new systems tends to look sharper by the fourth or fifth week than the first. Whether that shows up against a defense that just posted a shutout is the real question here.
- OutG. Richardson (WR) — Richardson is nursing with a lower body injury, and he will miss an extended period.09/14
- OutT. Freeman (WR) — Freeman has been shut down for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.09/14
- OutH. Cedarland (TE) — Cedarland is bothered by a leg injury, and he will miss an extended period.08/23
Arizona's first two results say more about a favorable opener than a proven road team; this is the Wildcats' first true away trip of the season, and the level of competition jumps considerably in Pullman even with Washington State winless. The Wildcats are priced as heavy favorites on both the spread and moneyline, which tracks with the gap between a shutout win and back-to-back double-digit losses.
Northern Arizona35-7
Duquesne48-7
For Washington State, points have been the problem more than yardage or effort — 17 combined through two games against Washington and Kansas State. A defense that held the Huskies to 24 has kept things from getting out of hand; the offense finding any rhythm behind Pinnick would be the story that changes how this one is talked about heading into next week.
Arizona controls most of the variables here: the better quarterback play so far, the better defensive results, and a roster with more established pieces. Washington State's path is narrower — win the turnover battle, make Arizona travel and play a slower game, and hope the extra install time under Moore's staff has closed some of the gap that showed up in the first two weeks.