Grip on Sports: Cougars will emerge from the Apple Cup avalance and end up someplace warm for the holidays

A GRIP ON SPORTS • A 10-win regular season is something pretty rare around these parts. And with it probably comes a rare reward. Read on.

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• After spending a little while lamenting what happened in Martin Stadium on Friday – in an ironic turn, it was a clear, crisp Saturday in Pullman, perfect weather for Washington State’s offense and defense to shine – the Cougars and their fans can start looking ahead.

The season isn’t over.

There is a bowl game to be played. And if the prognosticators are right, Washington State will be making a pretty special trip.

The Rose Bowl may be out of the picture – either Washington or Utah will represent the Pac-12 there – but a New Year’s Day bowl isn’t. As long as the Cougar finish in the top 12 of the College Football Playoff rankings (and they should), one of the selection committee’s bowl games is in play.

The question is, which one?

For some reason CBS Sports feels it will be the Peach Bowl, the Dec. 29 bowl in Atlanta. Of the ones in play, this seems like the most unlikely of the major choices.

It might even be better for the Cougar faithful for them to play in the Alamo Bowl the night before. After all, San Antonio is a bit easier trip than Atlanta. However, playing in a CFP bowl means a lot more money for the Pac-12, so if the committee wants them in the South, the Cougars will play in the South.

The more likely New Year’s Six bowl for WSU would be the Fiesta in Glendale, Ariz. The early morning start (10 a.m. around here) on New Year’s Day would be tough for the Fireball crowd. But the projected matchup with UCF, without its do-everything quarterback McKenzie Milton (out with a gruesome-looking leg injury), would also give the Cougars their best chance at a first-ever 11-win season.

But remember, Auburn took undefeated UCF lightly last year and was run out of the Peach Bowl.

Sports Illustrated projects Washington State to the Fiesta Bowl and this one, considering proximity and the committee’s history, would seem to be a better fit. Spending late December in Arizona probably doesn’t seem all that bad for Coug fans.

• The Hawks play an early game today on the East Coast. That’s been bad news for them at times over the years.

Whether it is or isn’t doesn’t really matter for those of us who prefer watching the RedZone on Sunday. The early window is always better (more games), so having to focus on just one contest is a bummer. It’s better when the Hawks occupy their usual 1 p.m. slot, allowing a full morning of touchdown watching and an afternoon of moaning about whatever just happened in the Seattle game.

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WSU: The Cougar players (and hopefully their supporters) took some time to reflect yesterday and, you know what, it was a special regular season. Theo Lawson does the same, reflecting on the 10-2 year, in this story. … The volleyball team defeated Washington last night and awaits its NCAA Tournament fate. … The basketball team played a home game last night and won again, defeating Delaware State 80-52. Peter Harriman filled in for Theo and has this game story. … The women’s basketball team also won yesterday, finishing third in a tournament.

Elsewhere in the Pac-12, there were some incredible football games yesterday though none had a better fourth quarter than Arizona State’s 41-40 comeback win over Arizona. The 20-point rally had to be seen to be believed. The Wildcats looked as if they were headed to a bowl game and then they weren’t. … Utah’s comeback was also pretty darn impressive, what with four consecutive scores to earn a 35-27 win over visiting BYU. But it wasn’t a conference game and it was just another in a series of Utah wins in the rivalry. … USC actually made Ian Book – a one-time WSU commit – and Notre Dame sweat for a while. Then the Trojans reverted to the norm and lost, 24-17. Will it have been the last game for Clay Helton? … California continued its upward trajectory with a 33-21 win over visiting Colorado, which needs a new coach. … UCLA and Stanford played a fun game in the Rose Bowl, with the Cardinal holding on for a 49-42 victory. It wasn’t old school football, that’s for sure. … Hunter Bryant is just what the Huskies needed in snowy Pullman. … Oregon walloped Oregon State in Friday’s Civil War.

Gonzaga: To win a big tournament, you sometimes need some unexpected contributions. Jeremy Jones is the player who supplied that in Maui. Jim Meehan took some time yesterday to describe how Jones came to be playing for the Zags. … The women’s basketball team finished 2-1 in one of the better tournaments of the season, bouncing back after losing the opener to No. 1 (and tourney champ) Notre Dame.

EWU: The Eagles will host Nicholls State on Saturday in the FCS’ playoffs second round. … Around the Big Sky, Montana State moved on with a 35-14 home win against Incarnate Word.

Whitworth: The Pirates’ football season ended with their first loss, a 45-24 NCAA Division III playoff decision at St. John’s University in Minnesota.

Chiefs: Spokane defeated Kamloops 3-1 last night at the Arena. Kevin Dudley was there and has this game story.

Preps: Colville moved into next weekend’s 1A title game against Newport after upsetting undefeated and top-ranked Royal 31-28 in Moses Lake. … Four local cross country runners earned NCAA honors.

Seahawks: After having played two-thirds of their season, the Hawks are in a spot every middle-of-the road NFL teams hopes to be in. They control their playoff destiny. It begins today with a key game in Carolina. Win, and Seattle is a favorite to make the postseason. … One of the Hawks’ big weapons today is a former Panther.

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• We have some news. We will not be doing the Grip on Sports column tomorrow and are not sure when it will resume. Hopefully, Tuesday. But that is not up to us. It is up to the good folks connected to the Spokane court system. No, we are not on trial. At least not this week. We have been called for jury duty. Again. Every 10 years, like clockwork, we get our name picked out of some gigantic hat and we have to head to the Spokane County Courthouse to serve. So we are off to do our civic duty tomorrow. It’s too bad they won’t let us live tweet it. Then you could all share in my tedium. Or excitement, depending on what happens. Until whenever …