How the Cougs stack up in preseason bowl projections

The start of the 2017 campaign is just days away (even less if you can accurately describe OSU v. Indiana as a “game” and I will because FOOTBALL) which means we’ve still got more than three months to go before bowl committees start handing out vacations to alums postseason births.

Preseason bowl predictions might be the only thing that can surpass a preseason top-25 for how inaccurate they’ll be at the end of November. But, much like a cocktail before 9 a.m. when you’re on vacation, it’s never too early to indulge.

It also gives you at least a semblance of an idea as to what the national media, outside of WSU’s preseason No. 24 ranking, thinks of the Cougs. Of the projections I could find, there’s a (relative) consensus ... and you probably won’t like it too much.

Anyway, a reminder of the Pac-12’s bowl tie-ins, which, as we explored earlier, remain pretty awful!

1. Alamo Bowl: Dec. 28th, 6:00 p.m. on ESPN vs. Big 12
2. Holiday Bowl: Dec. 28th, 6:00 p.m. on FS1 vs. Big Ten
3. Foster Farms Bowl: Dec. 27th, 5:30 p.m. on FOX vs. Big Ten
4. Sun Bowl: Dec. 29th, 12:00 p.m. on CBS vs. ACC/Notre Dame
5. Las Vegas Bowl: Dec. 16th, 12:30 p.m. on ABC vs. Mountain West
6. Cactus Bowl: Dec. 26th, 6:00 p.m. on ESPN vs. Big 12

(Note: The Rose Bowl is a CFP Semifinal game this season so the Pac-12 champion is not automatically eligible for a spot in the game.)

SB Nation: Las Vegas Bowl

The mothership likes the Cougs to travel to Vegas for the marquee game of the first day of bowls in a 2013 New Mexico Bowl redux against the Colorado State Rams. I could do without the fever dreams again.

Sports Illustrated: Foster Farms Bowl

Everyone get your farm jokes ready, SI likes us to head to Santa Clara to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes. How many promos for this game would just involve barns and combines? I say all of them.

College Football News: Foster Farms Bowl

Another projection, another trip to Jeans Stadium, this one against the Northwestern Wildcats. After the game, the journalism students will hit the field to settle the score once and for all. Bring your AP style guides!

Sporting News: Foster Farms Bowl

Okay, so third in the Pac-12 pecking order after a team or two at the top gets an at-large bid, that’s what I’m hearing here. This one though features yet another team, the Michigan State Spartans.

Jon Wilner: Foster Farms Bowl

OH C’MON, THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS. Wilner doesn’t take a stab at an opponent but he also predicted the Cougs would beat USC ... and then lose to Cal. /shrug emoji

CBS: Cactus Bowl

FINALLY, someone thinks something other than the dang Fost— ... oh, that got worse. Oh, wait, it got better! Projected opponent: West Virginia Mountaineers. Good Lord, get the stadium a new scoreboard in this scenario, it will be broken.