2008 Washington State Football Predictions

Four straight seasons without postseason play was enough to send Bill Doba packing. Washington State alum Paul Wulff will endure the daunting task of rebuilding a program in which its depth has fallen victim to attrition and poor recruiting choices in the last few season's under Doba. Wulffs no-huddle offense will try to be the answer. Find out how Jimmy Boyd sees the season shaping up in Paul Wulff's first season in his 2008 Washington State Cougars predictions and season preview. The Cougars are listed at 50-1 odds to win the Pac-10 Conference at BodogLife.com.

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Offense

Things won't start pretty on the offense as Wulff is minus a four-year starting QB who rewrote the record books at State. Wulff does bring his no-huddle attack with his from Eastern Washington along with the hope that it will be a tough egg for Pac-10 defenses to crack. Gary Rogers and K-State transfer Kevin Lopina will compete for the starting signal caller job. Wulff does have one proven big play threat to work with, but it will be up to his unproven QB's to deliver the ball. I'm referring to all-league standout Brandon Gibson. Track star Jeshua Jackson could also emerge as an increasing threat this season. The eighth ranked passing offense in the nation a season ago was just the 100th ranked rushing offense. The Cougars need to find some balance by enhancing the running game. Starter Dwight Tardy and backup Chris Ivory don't give the first year head man a lot to work with.

Defense

All four starting linebackers return in State's 3-4 scheme, but junior Andy Mattingly will move back to end as Wulff reverts back to a 4-3. This could cause the Cougars to temporarily lose the progress that was made last season. Depth is lacking so health will be vital. The linebackers have proven to be solid at shutting down the run, but teams have been able to pass on the Cougars virtually at will. The secondary is as unpromising as possible and we could see as many as four new starters as it looks likely that Wulff could start from scratch. In a season when the offense could really use some help from the defense, it won't be provided.

Special Teams

Reid Forrest is an unorthodox punter which depends on tumbling kicks away from the defense that will roll instead of spiraling punts with lots of hang time. We can't expect much from the place kicking game and the return game is non-existent. Brandon Gibson may be forced into taking kicks if field position is at a premium.

Prediction – 10th Pac-10

Wins will be tough to come by for the Cougars in 2008. Portland State at home is the only sure bet I have on the schedule. An unquestionable step backwards will be taken in Wulff's first season as he was left with an empty cupboard. The no-huddle offense will likely give several teams enough trouble to pick up a couple more wins, but I don't see more than three in the cards, which means a last place finish in the conference behind Washington and Stanford.

Just because the Cougars are slated to finish at the bottom of the Pac-10 doesn't mean that they won't be a force against the college football spread. If oddsmakers are spotting the Cougars too many points, Jimmy will be the first to know and the first to expose their poor lines. Do your college football betting with Jimmy all season long for the most winning football picks in the game.

July 12th, 2008