HOT COUGAR ACTION: Good News! The Computers Think We'll Win!

WhatIfSports.com runs computer simulations of each game each week and I've got some good news: We apparently can be 95 percent certain of victory over Montana State! They also found an average score of 35-10 in favor of the Cougs.

Anyway, I'm curious if 35-10 would satisfy you. Or does it depend on how they look getting to 35-10?*

*Don't even ask me to consider the alternative. I won't do it. Can't handle the thought.

Then again, they found an average score of 33-15 against Oklahoma State. But, hey -- it was the first week for everyone, right?

On to the links!

WSU News

WSU begins prep for Montana State - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - Sept. 6, 2010
A couple of position battles have cropped up, with Andrew Roxas’ play last week giving him a lot of snaps at left guard with the ones. Wade Jacobson had more with the twos, though he was still listed as the starter in this week’s two-deep. Tyson Pencer was back going full speed, playing left tackle with the twos. If Pencer continues to improve, it wouldn’t surprise me to see David Gonzales playing some right tackle now and again.

WSU: First Look at Montana State - Spokesman.com - Sept. 6, 2010
What it means for WSU: It may sound trite, but there probably isn’t a bigger game all season for the Cougars. Sure, the Bobcats are just another Big Sky team invited to Pullman for a slaughter, right? Sort of like Portland State in 2008. But this WSU group needs success, no matter what team it comes against.

Scout.com: Cougs in week's first practice focused, angry
The third year coach remained steadfast in his belief on Monday night that change is on the way. It might sound strange to say it after a lopsided loss, but there were things the Cougars did on Saturday that they haven’t done or been capable of for the past two years. And changing things up where it matters most, on the scoreboard, is not far off, he said. "I think we're all a little mad," Wuff said. "You go watch the football film and there are a lot of good things we can take out of it and there's a lot of things were not far from cleaning up, that are fixable. That's the thing that this year more than any year, we actually have things we can fix, and we will fix them."

Click for more WSU news, as well as Pac-10 stuff.

Cougars Set to Host Montana State Saturday - WASHINGTON STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
Official game-week release from the university.

Cougar Football Returns to Pullman - WASHINGTON STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
With the 2010 Cougar football season home opener Saturday against Montana State, Washington State University officials are reminding fans, friends and alumni returning to Pullman to be aware of changes they will see around Martin Stadium on gamedays.

Ash: McGhee was good, not perfect, after watching tape - The Bozeman Daily Chronicle: Bobcats
On Sundays, Montana State beat writer Will Holden sits down with Rob Ash after the Bobcat head coach has broken down the film from Saturday's game. Reviewing the action for a second - and sometimes a third - time can cause some perceptions to change while others remain the same. And sometimes the jury is still out. (h/t Grippi for this one)

Cougar Baseball Begins Falls Practice - WASHINGTON STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
In 2009, Washington State's baseball team made its first NCAA postseason appearance since 1990. Last spring, the Cougars came within a game of playing in a Super Regional. In 2011, Washington State seeks its third-straight NCAA postseason berth which would be a first for the program since four-consecutive appearances from 1975-78. The Cougars began that quest with the opening of fall practice, Monday.

Dean Wins Second-Consecutive Snake River Challenge - WASHINGTON STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
The Washington State women's swim team competed in ideal conditions at the Snake River Challenge, Labor Day. The annual event consists of a 2.2 mile swim on the Snake River from Granite Point to Wawawai Landing, followed by a 2.2 mile run back to Granite Point.

Pac-10 News

¡Olé! Say Pac-10 defenses - Pac-10 Blog - ESPN
For goodness sake, folks, what the heck happened last week? Can someone get off a block? Or make a tackle? Oregon and Arizona State fans can probably go back to their Labor Day barbecues. Arizona and California: You looked good on defense in Week 1, so you might be OK. Washington? Your defense wasn't the problem at BYU. Stanford? Jury's out. But looking at the statistical rankings after Week 1 and seeing USC at 106th in the nation in total defense after giving up 588 yards -- 588 yards! -- against a WAC team is jarring.

Pac-10 rewind and look ahead - Pac-10 Blog - ESPN
One week is in the books, and it wasn't a good one. The Pac-10 went 6-4 and ended up frowning in each of its major tests.

Quick previews: Pac-10 Week 2 - Pac-10 Blog - ESPN
Here's a quick look at Week 2 in the Pac-10.