Washington State’s journey through the college football wilderness takes it to Boise for Monday’s Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Utah State.
Left without a conference for the past two years, the Cougars were essentially a touring team in 2025, posting a 6-6 record against opponents from every part of the country.
Wazzu is a 2.5-point underdog against Utah State, which finished 6-6 in Bronco Mendenhall’s first year at the helm.
Washington State vs. Utah State odds, prediction
It’s hard to tell whether to be impressed or disappointed by Washington State’s 2025 performance.
The glass-half-full approach would lean into the Cougars’ misfortune of being left behind by the Pac-12, and the fact that they scored decent wins against Toledo and San Diego State, while going 1-4 in one-score games, including at Ole Miss, James Madison, and Virginia. The former two made the College Football Playoff, while the latter missed thanks to a loss in the ACC Championship.
Had a couple of more bounces gone its way, Washington State could have had nine or 10 wins.
The more pessimistic view would be that the Cougars barely beat Idaho, got embarrassed by North Texas, and went 1-1 against Oregon State.
No matter what side you fall on, there are some absolutes when it comes to Washington State. The Cougars are uninspiring on offense, but surprisingly sturdy on defense.
Washington State’s statistical profile bears that out, with top-35 marks in points allowed, yards allowed, and yards per play, but it’s the Cougars’ performances that really drive it home. Wazzu held seven opponents to 13 points or fewer, and more impressively, kept Ole Miss to just 24 points in Oxford and then followed that up by conceding just 22 to Virginia.
Betting on College Football?
Utah State’s offense had plenty of success this season, but it will be without its leading receiver, Braden Pegan, as he gets set to enter the transfer portal.
Pegan’s absence will put more pressure on quarterback Bryson Barnes to do it all, and while he was superb this season at protecting the ball and using his legs to keep defenses off balance, he’ll be without his most important supporting cast member.
Washington State’s defense has slowed down some impressive offenses this season, and I trust them to do the same against the Aggies on Monday afternoon.
The Play: Washington State moneyline (+105, FanDuel)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
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