BOULDER, Colo. – The long climb back to respectability leads the Washington State Cougars a mile high next to the Rocky Mountains to face the Colorado Buffaloes this afternoon.
Las Vegas oddsmakers demonstrated their doubts about the Cougars (2-1) by making them 3-point underdogs to a Colorado (1-3) team that opened the season with a 34-17 loss at Hawaii.
That’s the same Hawaii team that lost by 20 to a UNLV team that was coming off a 52-point loss to WSU.
The Cougars planted doubts in the minds of their most fervent supporters when they gave up the final 28 points in a 42-24 loss at San Diego State two weeks ago.
“Mentally, we weren’t ready to go that long,” offensive tackle Wade Jacobson said. “Most of us starters weren’t in the full game the first two games.”
Indeed, WSU starters saw little action after halftime in two lopsided wins. Starting with last week’s bye, coaches have emphasized the importance of finishing strong by adding conditioning drills and simulating late-game situations in practice.
“We got a lot of things fixed,” wide receiver Marquess Wilson said.
“We’ve got to finish,” offensive guard John Fullington stressed. “It’s 60 minutes long. You can’t go 45 and expect to win.”
The Pacific-12 Conference opener is a game the Cougars can ill afford to lose if they want to achieve their goal of playing in a bowl game for the first time in eight years.
The rebuilding Buffaloes are short on depth and talent, particularly in the secondary. Marshall Lobbestael’s passing has keyed a WSU offense that ranks among the nation’s best.
Colorado leads the Pac-12 in pass defense largely because of a strong pass rush, spotty run defense and poor special teams play that led to good field position for rivals.
Colorado’s 14 sacks are tops in the Pac-12. San Diego State sacked the rather immobile Lobbestael six times. Not all the sacks were the fault of the offensive line, but center Taylor Meighen struggled in his first start for the injured Andrew Roxas.
“We have the potential to be one of the best lines in the Pac-12,” Fullington said.
EXTRA POINTS
A near-capacity crowd is expected to turn out in mid-80s sunshine at 53,613-seat Folsom Field. The horseshoe-shaped stadium has been home to the Buffaloes since 1924. …
WSU coach Paul Wulff said junior college transfer Matt Goetz will likely start at center with Roxas the backup as he continues to recover from an ankle sprain. …
Wulff played down the impact of playing at Boulder’s elevation of 5,430 feet. Pullman’s elevation is 2,352 feet. … The Cougars are 1-20 outside Pullman in four years under Wulff. …
WSU hopes to honor popular ex-linebacker Steve Gleason at a home game if his schedule and health permit. Gleason, who spent seven years in the NFL, revealed last week that he suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease, a disorder of the nerve cells that is invariably fatal.
COUGARS GAMEDAY
WASHINGTON STATE (2-1 OVERALL, 0-0 PACIFIC-12 CONFERENCE) AT COLORADO (1-3, 0-0).
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. PDT, Folsom Field, Boulder, Colo.
TV: Fox College Sports Pacific. Radio: 770-AM, 1240-AM, 104.3-FM.
The series: Colorado leads, 4-2. The Buffaloes defeated the Cougars, 20-12, in 2004 in Seattle.
What to watch: The Cougars need to protect QB Marshall Lobbestael, who lacks mobility but has passed superbly when given time. Lobbestael ranks among the national leaders with 320 passing yards per game; Colorado ranks among the national leaders with 14 sacks. Deep threat WR Marquess Wilson must test a Colorado secondary that lacks depth, talent and experience. Colorado has its own big-play weapons in WR Paul Richardson and RB Rodney Stewart.
What’s at stake: Two rebuilding teams are in desperate need of a good start in their first Pac-12 game. The Buffaloes are trying to revive hope in Boulder, and the task will become more difficult if they drop to 1-4 with a loss to WSU. “We can’t take anybody lightly,” warns first-year coach Jon Embree, a former Colorado standout. The Cougars are trying to prove to themselves and everyone else that their 2-25 Pac-10 record the past three years is nothing more than history.
The pick: Washington State 42, Colorado 34.
PRIME NUMBERS
WASHINGTON STATE
8Marshall Lobbestael (QB)6-3/215senior Has passed for 10 TDs, but had four turnovers last game.
86Marquess Wilson (WR)6-4/183sophomore Averaging 143 receiving yards per game, 28.6 yards per catch.
12C.J. Mizell (MLB)6-2/227sophomore Tied for team lead with 19 tackles and three tackles for loss.
98Toni Pole (DT)6-1/292freshman Strong, active redshirt freshman has eight tackles.
COLORADO
9Tyler Hansen (QB)6-1/215senior Has passed for 1,150 yards, 9 TDs, 1 interception.
6Paul Richardson (WR)6-1/175sophomore Had school-record 284 yards on 11 catches in OT loss to Cal.
5Rodney Stewart (RB)5-6/175senior Leads team in rushing yards (278) and receptions (23).
3Douglas Rippy (MLB)6-3/230junior Tied for Pac-12 lead with 34 tackles.
Howie Stalwick, contributing writer
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