The pick: Why Washington State will beat Stanford

PULLMAN – Maybe I’m coming off as a bit of a homer by choosing the Cougars to win for the 10th straight time this season. Maybe, or maybe I just like Washington State’s chances against a traditional offense with a single focal point. i.e. the one the Cougars will see on Saturday afternoon.

I erred in choosing the Cougars last week against Khalil Tate and the Arizona spread-option – which is looking more and more like the most explosive offense in the country, by the way – and would probably take the Wildcats in round two. (So I’m sure you’ll all point to this if the Cougs and Cats somehow link up in the Pac-12 title game a month from now.)

I’m optimistic that the “Speed D” will rebound against a Stanford team that’s been more of a one-man show than LeBron in his first stint with the Cavs. Nobody in the Pac-12 asks a single player to do more than Bryce Love and that reflected in the 15-14 win over Oregon State last week. Up to that point, the best defensive showing for the Beavers was a 35-32 win over Portland State, which seven weeks later still doesn’t own a win.

I see the Cougars winning game No. 8 and capping an unbeaten season at the home fort.

The line: WSU by 1

The pick: WSU 28, Stanford 24