The pick: Why Washington will beat Washington State

PULLMAN – Not more than a few hours after Washington State beat Oregon at Martin Stadium on Oct. 20, I received an anonymous email from a reader offering a subtle reminder of my pregame pick, which was made the night before and printed in Saturday’s edition of The Spokesman-Review. I called a 35-31 win for the Ducks. The Cougars prevailed 34-20. Pretty far off, I get it. “Please publish a picture of you eating crow … No, really … Eat a real crow! Oh … and move to Oregon,” the message read. So, yes, I anticipate the old inbox will be buzzing if I’m wrong about this next one. In their “Us against the world” mission, the Cougars have proved just about everyone wrong this season. The prognosticators, the fans and, while they may not admit it, probably even the players themselves, to a certain extent. There isn’t enough crow to go around, but I may have to force down another helping this Friday. To be brutally honest, I made my 2018 Apple Cup prediction almost 365 days ago, in a chilly press box at Husky Stadium. I watched UW’s defense foil WSU’s offense time and again and I watched the Huskies’ tailback, Myles Gaskin, run past the Cougars, barrel through them and dance around them, rushing for 192 yards and four touchdowns. UW won by 27. In 2016, by 28. In 2015, by 25 and in 2014, by 18. The Cougars will test the Huskies this time, I think. But will they beat them? I need to see it before I believe it.

The pick: Washington 21, Washington State 17.