HOT COUGAR ACTION: Gameday Links

The WSU home opener is a mere six hours away and judging by the comments both here and on Twitter last night, Pullman is abuzz.

While many of you will choose to tailgate instead of read these morning links, the rest of us still need a way to kill the next few hours. Let's start by getting caught up on all of the week's CougCenter coverage with the latest news and links after the jump.

The big news Friday was the announcement that the Pac-12 Network had agreed to a deal with DISH. Those of you without access should at least now be able to find a bar or restaurant to watch the game. Speaking of the game, Craig has all the basics you need to know here. For more detail, you can check out his offensive and defensive previews of Eastern Washington.

Who is WSU's most important person this week? Rancourt says it's Jeff Tuel. If you are interested in donating some money to a casino this morning, you can find Sherwood's betting tips here. We won't know if the Cougs are going to win for several more hours, but heading into the game, 87 percent of you think they will.

Finally, if the WSU game isn't enough to cure your football fix, here is the schedule for all of the Pac-12 games as well as a few notable national games.

We'll be back with more in a couple of hours.

Football

For Leach and Cougars, ESU's energy is an example | Cougar Football | The Seattle Times
The team on the video screen had plenty of energy. They "flew around," as coaches like to say. So Mike Leach noted to his Washington State players during film study that this is what they should look like, too — like Eastern Washington, the Cougars' opponent Saturday at noon in the newly renovated Martin Stadium.

Eastern has the Cougars' full attention | HeraldNet.com - Sports
Any chance that the Washington State University football team would look past Eastern Washington evaporated last week when the Eagles pounded Idaho.

WSU football fans cautiously optimistic on new coach & season | KING5.com Seattle
Saturday marks the first home football game for new Washington State University Head Football Coach, Mike Leach. It is also the first time Cougar football fans get to enjoy the Martin Stadium upgrades.

Pac-12 picks part one … Geaux point spread! | UW Huskies Insider - The News Tribune
I talked to Christian Caple, who said Eagles fans were giving him grief about picking the Cougs to win. Really? Look, I stick up for the Big Sky as much as anyone. But come on. EWU beat an Idaho team that might finish third in the Big Sky this year, while WSU was playing what I think is a top 25 team.

A Special Season - The Washington State University Official Athletic Site
In early August, Mike Leach asked Bill Moos to address the Washington State football team about what it means to be a Cougar. As he prepared to speak to the team in the Camp Room within the Bohler Athletic Complex, Moos didn't have to think long about what to say.

Cougs believe execution, poise will be their ‘magic formula’ | WSU Cougars - The News Tribune
In an ideal world, all the losses and criticism and angst of recent years would have instantly disappeared for the Washington State football program when the Cougars played their first game under heralded coach Mike Leach last week.

Washington State vs. Eastern Washington: Game at a glance | Cougar Football | The Seattle Times
Eastern Washington, fresh from a 20-3 victory over Idaho in its opener, tries to bag its second victory from a Palouse FBS rival. The Cougars seek their first triumph under new head coach Mike Leach.

Travel Information for Cougar Football Saturday - The Washington State University Official Athletic Site
PULLMAN, Wash. - With Saturday's Washington State football game against Eastern Washington a sellout, WSU Athletics would like to alert fans to travel and parking options so they may enjoy their Cougar football experience.

WSU Athletics

Cougars Defeat Wolf Pack for Fifth-Straight Victory - The Washington State University Official Athletic Site
The Washington State volleyball team (6-2) hit .478 in the first set and .385 in the second as it held on for the three-set victory (25-10, 25-11, 25-23) over Nevada (1-7), Friday evening at the Nevada Wolf Pack Invitational tournament.