PULLMAN — The Washington State Cougars like to think of themselves as a football program on the rise.
Whether the Cougars are ready to rise high enough to knock off the seventh-ranked team in the country remains to be seen.
Many teams schedule a weak opponent for homecoming, but Stanford brings a 13-game winning streak into WSU’s homecoming contest today at Martin Stadium.
“It’s a challenge, obviously,” WSU coach Paul Wulff said, “but a chance to make a great memory.”
The Cardinal is big, physical and loaded with depth and experience. Stanford leads the Pacific-12 Conference in various offensive and defensive categories – and is winning by a league-best 35 points a game – despite the fact that no Cardinal ranks in the league’s top 50 in tackles or higher than fifth in passing, rushing or receiving yards.
“It’s going to be a very physical game,” Washington State linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis said. “We’ve got to match that and one-up them. We’ve got to make plays and be very, very disciplined as far as our assignments go.”
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, a leading candidate to win the Heisman Trophy as college football’s top player, is ranked the No. 1 prospect for the 2012 NFL draft by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
Luck is so popular with autograph seekers, security personnel are assigned to him at all games. The redshirt junior from Houston purchased a $5 million insurance policy prior to the season to protect himself in case of major injury.
Luck has it all – strong arm, quick feet, brains, leadership skills and great field vision. Luck’s early exits in blowout victories have limited him to “only” 276.6 passing yards per game (fifth in the Pac-12) and 14 touchdown passes (sixth), but he leads the conference and ranks third nationally in passing efficiency with a 216.89 rating.
“Every game, he does something that not many human beings can do,” Stanford coach David Shaw said.
Stanford leads the Pac-12 in defense, and Wulff said the Cardinal is “as good offensively as anyone in the country.” Stanford often plays two or three of its talented tight ends at once. They are frequent pass targets for Luck out of play-action.
EXTRA POINTS
Jeff Tuel, out since the season opener with a broken collarbone, figures to see action at quarterback for WSU. Marshall Lobbestael may remain the starter. … With barely 3,000 tickets left Friday morning, the Cougars are hoping for their first sellout since 2007. Sunshine and temperatures in the 50’s are in the forecast. … WSU and Oregon State have sold 41,000 tickets for their game next Saturday at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field (Root Sports, 7:30 p.m.). … ESPN reports that Stanford’s string of eight consecutive wins by 25 or more points is the longest such streak in the history of the Pac-12 and its predecessors, dating back to 1916. … Stanford’s 13-game winning streak is the nation’s longest and ties a school record. … The Cardinal is favored by 21 points … Kiper ranks Stanford offensive left tackle Johnathan Martin the No. 6 prospect for next year’s NFL draft. … None of the five teams Stanford has played currently has a winning record. WSU has faced just one team (San Diego State) that currently has a winning record.
COUGARS GAMEDAY
STANFORD (5-0, 3-0 PAC-12) AT WASHINGTON STATE (3-2, 1-1)
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m., Martin Stadium, Pullman
TV: Versus. Radio: 770-AM, 1240-AM, 104.3-FM
The series: Stanford leads 35-25-1. Stanford won, 38-28, last year in Palo Alto, Calif.
What to watch: Projected starting quarterback Jeff Tuel, whose season has been limited to a few plays in the opening game because of a broken collarbone, figures to draw a huge ovation from WSU’s homecoming crowd if (as expected) he plays as a starter or sub. Inexperienced right tackle Dan Spitz, filling in for the injured Wade Jacobson, faces a Stanford defense that is tied for the Pacific-12 Conference lead with 17 quarterback sacks. Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck is a threat with his arm and his feet. The Cougars must resist the urge to bite on Luck’s many play-action passes. Stanford has allowed just two sacks this season.
What’s at stake: WSU would love to treat a possible sellout crowd to one of the biggest upsets in school history. Even with a loss, the Cougars – who won a total of three games in 2009-10 – would finish the first half of the season at .500. The No. 7 Cardinal could set a school record with its 14th straight win. The Cougars are in fourth place in the North Division, but if they get the upset and Washington and Oregon lose, WSU would move into a second-place tie with the Huskies and Ducks and be just a half-game behind Stanford.
TNT pick: Stanford 42, Washington State 27
PRIME NUMBERS
STANFORD
No.Name (position)Height/weightYear
12Andrew Luck (QB)6-4/235Junior
Has completed 73 percent of his passes for 1,383 yards, 14 TDs.
33Stepfan Taylor (RB)5-11/208Junior
Ran for 142 yards and 2 TDs against WSU last year.
44Chase Thomas (OLB)6-4/239Junior
Tied for Pac-12 lead with 4 sacks.
82Coby Fleener (TE)6-6/244Senior
Averages 21.2 yards per catch; has 5 TD’s on 12 receptions.
WASHINGTON STATE
No.Name (position)Height/weightYear
8Marshall Lobbestael (QB)6-3/209Senior
Has 15 TD passes but made costly turnovers in both losses.
86Marquess Wilson (WR)6-3/181Sophomore
Has 6 TD catches of 50 or more yards (4 this year).
5Rickey Galvin (RB)5-8/172Freshman
Ran for 93 yards last week; Stanford allows 62 rushing yards a game.
17Alex Hoffman-Ellis (OLB)6-1/226Senior
Leads team with 34 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks (tied).
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