Wk3 Prediction Thread EWU 24 @ Wazzu 59

[luckyintheorder]

Man, a couple of GREAT games back to back. The team looks solid head to toe. Physically and mentally prepared to play both games vs. CWU and NAU. No surprise at the outcomes, just those good butterfly's we all get when our team suits up and runs onto the field.

This week is a horse of a different color. Not sure what many expected from a WSU team that was turning over a lot of talent and losing their heir apparent QB under terrible circumstances. Know I'm editorializing a bit, but this game feels special. Two years ago Eastern went to Pullman a big underdog, started an unknown redshirt walk on QB over a talented and tested QB with a first year OC.. On the other sideline was a heavily favored WSU team with Luke Falk and a stable of WR's most teams would have started and a nasty defensive unit. We know how that turned out.

WSU hasn't forgotten. They are coming off two very good wins with a very young WR corps, a new transfer QB and a lot of new starters on defense. Won't run through all the numbers, but this may be a better WSU team than the one Eastern faced in 16. Minshew is for real after stops at a C.C. and East Carolina, he is cool, collected and Southern. He has thrown a pick in each game, so a bit of a gunslinger. Williams at RB is a threat all over the field and their leading pass catcher and rusher (we don't have a LB that can cover him) and their WR's are young, speedy, athletic and some have size. Defense held SJSU to 109 yds this week.

Eastern can win this game. Gage needs to avoid the rush, ALL the WR's need to be more effective getting open, not sure the RB's can get many yards traditionally, Gage could have a big day on the ground. We need to take care of the ball, limit penalties and play solid defense by limiting big plays like they have so far this season, WSU will make mistakes as they always do. Two picks and 5 stops keep Eastern in this game.

Wazzu isn't looking past Eastern this week

It's a shoot out. Eags 38 WSU 44

Remember the Avengers had a Hulk and we had a Cooper Kupp...

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsczVW-89Wo[/media]

 

[93bird]

If Custer suits up and is near full strength, we have a real good shot. He gives us a dual threat. I think Gage uses his speed to extend drives and WSU is forced to keep up. They don't and Eastern wins 28-24. More important than a win is health. We can't afford to lose playmakers like last year.

 

[rontheoldwiseeagle2]

I don't know, I am not sure WSU's defensive stats are as good on the field as they are on paper?
I am going to wait until after the Coaches show before i let you know the real scores for this game.

 

[luckyintheorder]

If Custer suits up and is near full strength, we have a real good shot. He gives us a dual threat. I think Gage uses his speed to extend drives and WSU is forced to keep up. They don't and Eastern wins 28-24. More important than a win is health. We can't afford to lose playmakers like last year.

Agreed, good health is a key outcome besides a W. It always kills me to pick against the Eags. Part of the issue this week is the penalty and fumble issues. Let's face it Pac12 officiating can be pretty spotty to IMO.

 

[Crabcakes&Football]

Coug fans are pretty overly confident over on their message board.

 

[luckyintheorder]

Super article on GoEag about the upcoming game.

http://www.goeags.com/news/2018/9/9...es-stiff-challenge-versus-cougar-defense.aspx

 

[sammamisheag]

#1 No injuries to critical starters

#2 Cash the check

Granted, I'll be rooting for EWU as every alum & fan next Sat night, but I'm more concerned about statying healthy as the games that really matter start the week after.

This season is about what happens in Nov & Dec.

 

[luckyintheorder]

Coug fans are pretty overly confident over on their message board.

A couple weeks ago, I was hearing the same thing... They should feel good about the team. Not a Leach fan, but he is doing a nice job this season. Fans.. can't live with them, can't live without them.

 

[goeagles17]

I'll go out on a limb and say that EWU is the best offense that WSU will have faced so far this year. Kudos for their 31-0 shutout of SJSU (he we scored 31 points too!) but NAU is definitely a better football team than SJSU.

Curious to see how the other WRs step up. Our coaches have to assume that Webster will be double teamed and WSU will do everything to mitigate his effectiveness.

 

[Obzerver]

Matchup Predictor
EWU vs WSU 94.7% to 5.3%
According to ESPN's Football Power Index
That is now..about the same 9/3/2016

Coug fans are pretty overly confident over on their message board.

1) Must be newbies since fans from the 9/3/2016 game are still lickin their nuts.
2) May save Custer for the big games coming up.
3) How much are we getting paid.
4) We were a finger tip pass completion in the endzone from beating WSU 9/8/2012
5) We can get a good result with a near perfect performance and a couple of big breaks.
6) ESPN sucks

 

[EWU98]

Funny thing is I have had issues finding WSU alumni to bet me on this game. Every one has said ...nope ...not feeling it Go Eags!

 

[wsufan97]

WSU fan here.

Watched the Eastern game on TV Saturday before heading to the WSU game, was interesting.


Yes WSU played two terrible football teams, but they did what they were supposed to do, and pretty much slept walked though most of the second half vs SJSU, and the 2nd and 3rd quarter of Wyoming, it was just pathetic. If this was the 1st game of the year with a never tested QB, 3 new offensive lineman, i might feel differently. The transfer QB gives us something that we have never had since leach has been here a kid who can run, Halliday, and Faulk were totem poles just waiting to get sacked 7 times a game(zero sacks this year, its kind of nice).

Ask me anything as i grew up the son of a coach and see the game from a good perspective, not a total homer fan perspective.

 

[EWURanger]

WSU fan here.

Watched the Eastern game on TV Saturday before heading to the WSU game, was interesting.


Yes WSU played two terrible football teams, but they did what they were supposed to do, and pretty much slept walked though most of the second half vs SJSU, and the 2nd and 3rd quarter of Wyoming, it was just pathetic. If this was the 1st game of the year with a never tested QB, 3 new offensive lineman, i might feel differently. The transfer QB gives us something that we have never had since leach has been here a kid who can run, Halliday, and Faulk were totem poles just waiting to get sacked 7 times a game(zero sacks this year, its kind of nice).

Ask me anything as i grew up the son of a coach and see the game from a good perspective, not a total homer fan perspective.

Welcome.

 

[luckyintheorder]

Matchup Predictor
EWU vs WSU 94.7% to 5.3%
According to ESPN's Football Power Index
That is now..about the same 9/3/2016

Coug fans are pretty overly confident over on their message board.

1) Must be newbies since fans from the 9/3/2016 game are still lickin their nuts.
2) May save Custer for the big games coming up.
3) How much are we getting paid.
4) We were a finger tip pass completion in the endzone from beating WSU 9/8/2012
5) We can get a good result with a near perfect performance and a couple of big breaks.
6) ESPN sucks

ESPN does suck. Eag's can win if they play a clean game and get a couple of TO's. I think it will be hard to run the ball with the RB's, but if they blitz the wrong gaps and the OL can chip them, could break a few big ones to keep them honest. WR's need to step up big. Like Gage's new found decisiveness plus this one isn't at elevation. Go Eags.

 

[Obzerver]

welcome wsufan97, I'm sure you'll get plenty of questions. I see your D has only given up 157 yard average in yards first two games. Leach surely expects EWU to get more than that considering EWU had over 600 yards in offense last we played against what was hailed as a really good WSU D.. I don't expect getting close to that but EWU will get plenty of yards and pts. Question is after watching EWU do you see a shootout on the horizon? Also, if you have a running QB who is his backup(EWU knocked out NAU's great QB 1st qtr.)?

 

[LDopaPDX]

Matchup Predictor
EWU vs WSU 94.7% to 5.3%
According to ESPN's Football Power Index
That is now..about the same 9/3/2016

Coug fans are pretty overly confident over on their message board.

1) Must be newbies since fans from the 9/3/2016 game are still lickin their nuts.
2) May save Custer for the big games coming up.
3) How much are we getting paid.
4) We were a finger tip pass completion in the endzone from beating WSU 9/8/2012
5) We can get a good result with a near perfect performance and a couple of big breaks.
6) ESPN sucks

I'm not a gambling man, but I'd make Eastern's odds to be closer to 15%. Against a "normal" team, the best way to beat Eastern is to shorten the game, try to go on long drives with multiple first downs, and try to keep the total number of possessions per team to 10 or less. I seriously doubt the Cougs do this because they simply aren't built to play that way and I'm sure they recognize an overall talent advantage.

This'll be a big test for Eastern because it's the first game of the season where they are playing a team that is better on paper, so it'll be important to get the most in execution. For the offense, that means making catches in traffic, finding a way to stay up after first contact, and getting Gage freed up to run the football when a play breaks down. For the D, it means dropping the ball carrier at first contact, either getting off the field on most third or fourth down situations, and grabbing loose balls if they present themselves.

Credit the Cougs, Leach has built that program to the point where WSU is pretty good even in rebuilding years like this one. For a program that faced so many atrocious seasons under Wulff, they've gotten to the point where they should meet bowl eligibility every year... even in down years.

 

[wsufan97]

welcome wsufan97, I'm sure you'll get plenty of questions. I see your D has only given up 157 yard average in yards first two games. Leach surely expects EWU to get more than that considering EWU had over 600 yards in offense last we played against what was hailed as a really good WSU D.. I don't expect getting close to that but EWU will get plenty of yards and pts. Question is after watching EWU do you see a shootout on the horizon? Also, if you have a running QB who is his backup(EWU knocked out NAU's great QB 1st qtr.)?

He is actually not a running QB, but has the ability to escape, more like a Baker Mayfield type guy who can make stuff happen, we are just not used to that. I would be a 3rd year junior if he went down.

The OL has done very well the first 2 weeks and I think they are close to gelling. They are just so big and athletic, Leach can recruit lineman. The left tackle will play on Sundays. If they can get the run game going a little better WSU's 2 primary backs are legit. They were big time recruited kids, and can't wait to see them when they get going on a good day.

Defense we shall see(both teams were awful), but the thing about them is flat recruited out speed the past 4 years(there are two LB who were sprinters in HS, one kid ran a 10.44 100 in Cali, that's gross) These are kids like the Palouse Posse had back 25 years ago, rangy kids who they moved up positions from HS, Safeties to LB and LB to DE, DE to tackles. 6 3 and 6 4 nickle backs and the DE are all 6 3 to 6 5 225 to 240 and come off the edges like a fright train, Eastern's tackles better be quick.

The DB's are good lots of depth and tons of starts there, an the LB are by far the best group on the defense.

The WR are about 12 deep and they are tall and long on the outside and small and lightning quick on the inside. It is type of group Leach has wanted since he has been here. He has said all summer he thinks this could be his best offensive group he has had, so we shall see.

WSU has recruited better than they have constantly that I can ever remember and they have a program now, Leach has done a hell of a job.

 

[Hambone]

Eags win 34-31.

 

[DefendtheRed]

WSU 54-28

 

[ewueagfan]

Eagles 28 Cougars 42