USC Won't Play Them, but Here Is Washington State's 2011 Season Predictions

Washington State Cougars

Top-120* Preseason Ranking: No. 92

2011 Strength of Schedule: 46th

2011 Prediction: 2-10

A Worse WSU 2011 Prediction

2010:

Overall Performance: 2-10       Conference performance: 1-8

Quick Look:

Offense: seven returning starters (weakness: offensive line and running backs)

Defense: six returning starters (weakness: defensive line)

Special Teams: Punter Reid Forrest was a big loss to graduation

Coaching Carousel: 1. Linebackers Coach 2. Defensive Line Coach

2011 Game-by-Game Predictions:

Idaho St. at Washington St., Saturday, Sept. 3rd

Game Prediction: Win  Washington St. 17 - Idaho St. 6

This should be an easy FCS victory.

 

UNLV at Washington State, Saturday, September 10th

Game Prediction: Win - Washington State 31 - UNLV 24

UNLV travels to Pullman to play Washington State. Both teams finished 2-11 last year.

Washington St. at San Diego St., Saturday, September 17th

Game Prediction: Loss - Aztecs 24 - Cougars 21

San Diego State quarterback Ryan Lindley is a very good NFL prospect. The Aztecs are a better team, but San Diego State barely escapes with a win.

Washington State at Colorado, Saturday, Oct. 1st

Game Prediction: Loss - Colorado 24 - Washington St. 21

QB Jeff Tuel completed 60 percent of his passes throwing for 18 TDs. WR Marquess Wilson led all freshman last year with 1,006 yards. But the Cougars' rushing game, offensive line and defensive line need improvement. The Buffaloes have experienced offensive players in QB Tyler Hansen, RB Rodney Stewart, TE Ryan Deehan and WRs Toney Clemons and Paul Richardson. The edge in this game is Colorado's O-line and home-field advantage at Folsom Field in Boulder.

Washington State at UCLA, Saturday, Oct. 8th

Game Prediction: Loss - UCLA 24, Washington State 21

UCLA will enter this game losing four of their last five and will be beat up from playing three straight weeks of tough teams (Texas, at Oregon State and at Stanford). The Cougars will have played Idaho State, UNLV, at San Diego State and Colorado after a bye week, so the Cougars will be in better shape than the Bruins from an injury standpoint. Jeff Tuel is better than Kevin Prince. UCLA has a better running game. The Cougars allowed 220.3 rushing yards per game last year due to an undersized line. UCLA's home-field advantage at Rose Bowl stadium gives them an overtime field goal.

Stanford at Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 15th

Game Prediction: Loss - Stanford 42, Washington State 17

Stanford won’t be surviving Jeff Tuel's three fourth-quarter touchdowns this year. Andrew Luck, those great running backs and the best tight-ends in the conference will be the difference.

Oregon St. at Washington St., Saturday, Oct. 22nd

Game Prediction: Loss - Oregon St. 31, Washington St. 27

These two teams meet at the CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington. The Beavers might just have one or two more weapons than Washington State. Last year Washington State took it to Oregon State winning on the road 31-14 at Reser Stadium in an upset.

I'm calling for another upset and Oregon State battles for this close win.

Washington State at Oregon, Saturday, Oct. 29th

Game Prediction: Loss - Oregon 56, Washington State 13

Oregon did lose 21 seniors from last year's team. Scholarship juniors and seniors are hard to find on the practice field. There are only 11 seniors on scholarship and 69 freshmen and sophomores on scholarship for the 2011 team. The Ducks win big.

Washington State at California, Saturday, Nov. 5th

Game Prediction: Loss - California 21, Washington State 13

Washington State, ranked No. 92 in the country, will take a loss to California, ranked No. 58 in the country, but it won't be in Berkeley. It will be in San Francisco. After this game, Tedford will only need one more win to be bowl eligible. With this loss, the Cougar fans will be looking at 2-7 for the season and searching for Wulff's replacement.

Arizona State at Washington State, Saturday, Nov. 12th

Game Prediction: Loss - Arizona State 31, Washington State 17

Washington State quarterback Jeff Tuel will duel Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler to see who can put up more points. The Cougars may have a slight edge when you compare the two offenses; however, the Sun Devil's defensive unit is better than Washington State's, and in fact, one of the best in the Pac-12.

Utah at Washington State, Saturday, Nov. 19th

Game Prediction: Loss - Utah 28, Washington State 19

Washington State's loss to Utah brings their season to 2-9. A win in next week's Apple Cup would make up for some of the losses.

Washington State at Washington, Saturday, Nov. 26th

Game Prediction: Loss - Washington 24, Washington State 21

Washington State finishes the season 2-8 overall (0-9 in conference). Coach Paul Wulff, coaches, players and fans are very disappointed in the season.

* The Top 120 Ranking is an average of four top college football team rankings for all 120 teams from east coast online sources. Rival and Athlon are located in Tennessee, Presnapread.com is located in New York and the Sporting News is located in North Carolina.