The San Jose State Spartans (3-0) and Washington State Cougars (3-0) will attempt to stay unbeaten on Friday, September 20, at 10:00 PM ET at Gesa Field in Pullman, Washington. The Cougars are moderately favored, with a point spread at -14.0 (-110).
In their last game, the Spartans recently defeated the Kennesaw State Owls 31-10. After being down 3-0 after the first quarter, the Spartans answered with 17 points to go up 17-3 at the half.
Emmett Brown was aggressive with his passing, completing 26 of his 38 attempts for 355 yards and four touchdowns. Nick Nash also had a big game, with 17 receptions, 225 yards, and three touchdowns. If these can connect early against the Cougars, the offense should open up.
The Spartans scored 417 yards and 18 first downs but carelessly turned the ball over three times. Their defense held the Owls to 192 yards and 10 first downs and forced three turnovers in return. If they produce several turnovers, they will have difficulty against the Cougars.
Their offense has accumulated 30.0 points per game, and the defense has allowed opponents to score 13.6 points each time. This is a comfortable margin of safety, but they must create a solid lead early on the Cougars.
The Cougars had a challenging game on the road against the Washington Huskies but were able to win 24-19. This started as a back-and-forth battle, as the score was 17-13 at the half in favor of the Cougars.
John Mateer completed half of his 34 passes, totaling 245 yards. He had a touchdown but did throw it away once for an interception. On top of that, Mateer rushed for 62 yards on 16 carries for two touchdowns. It would be more appealing if they could have an established run game with someone other than Mateer, but he leads the team now.
The Cougars threw for 381 yards, 25 first downs, and just one turnover. On defense, they let the Huskies obtain 452 yards and 21 first downs. This game could have arguably gone the other way, but they capitalized on red zone opportunities.
They are averaging 43.6 points a game, while their opponents are putting up 21.6. Their first game of the season was a 70-30 final, so their averages are slightly lower than this against more vigorous opponents.
The college football betting odds from MyBookie in the San Jose State Spartans vs. Washington State Cougars showdown reveals the Cougars are 14-point favorites. Current market trends have the Cougars winning with a 78.5 percent chance of success.
The Cougars have not had any issues scoring the ball, and they will do their best to raise the score. Look for them to cover the spread.
