Early 2014 bowl projections are in and WSU is headed to ...

You might think it's ridiculous to talk about 2014 college football bowl projections on the fourth Sunday of January, but my question to you is what are you going to do instead, watch the Pro Bowl? Exactly, so let's get back to the bowl projections.

SB Nation's Jason Kirk got a headstart on the bowl projections, releasing the first set of the year on Friday. For a lot of years, WSU fans just hoped to get a mention in bowl projections. With the bowl game drought a thing of the past, there is a little more optimism this year. If Kirk's early projections hold true, the Cougars will indeed go bowling for a second straight season. After playing in the New Mexico Bowl last year, WSU is projected to head to the Independence Bowl for a matchup with Louisiana-Monroe.

If the dates remain the same, that would mean a late December trip to Shreveport. The game was played on Dec. 31 last year. Who's up for New Years' Eve in New Orleans? If you paid attention during the bowl projections last season, you may remember the Independence Bowl is not a Pac-12 affiliated bowl. So, why are the Cougars headed there instead of say, the Fight Hunger Bowl?

Well, once again, the Pac-12 is projected to be loaded. Kirk has Oregon in the Rose Bowl, UCLA in the Fiesta Bowl, USC in the Alamo Bowl, Oregon State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, Washington in the Holiday Bowl, Arizona in the Fight Hunger Bowl, Stanford in the Las Vegas Bowl and Arizona State in the Sun Bowl. With WSU, that is nine of the 12 teams making a bowl game.

If this holds true, Cougar fans will be sweating a selection again next season in another game of bowl musical chairs. Oddly enough, WSU heading to the Independence Bowl would mean the Cougars follow the path of Arizona for a second straight year. The Wildcats played in the New Mexico Bowl in 2012 and the Independence Bowl last season. Assuming this is going to be an ongoing trend, maybe we should root for Arizona to make the Rose Bowl next season.

Football:

Deone Bucannon played in the Senior Bowl on Saturday, finishing with three tackles. Two of those tackles came early, including a classic Bucannon tackle where he came up to tackle a tight end in the flat and delivered a blow that just sounded different than any other tackle. You can check out the box score from the game here.

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WSU aim for recruits on lines, secondary, seems to hit mark | Cougar Football | The Seattle Times
Washington State sought to bolster its secondary and both lines in its 2014 recruiting class, and those needs will be reflected in the Cougars’ signees come signing day Feb. 5.

Men's basketball:

Cougars ready to take their shot at Ducks - Spokesman.com - Jan. 25, 2014
The Washington State men’s basketball team has struggled in the early part of Pac-12 play, but has a chance to collect a win today against Oregon, a team in flux. The Cougars have lost six of their last seven games while the Ducks come to Pullman riding a five-game losing streak.

Look Ahead: Oregon - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - Jan. 25, 2014
No doubt about it, the Washington State basketball team is in a slump. The Cougars have lost six of their last seven games, and seven of their last nine. While breaking out of a rut like that can be difficult, on Sunday WSU will face an opponent that is experiencing some long-term troubles of its own in Oregon.

Women's basketball:

OSU women's basketball: Beavers look for another team effort : Basketball
Rueck would love to see similar gems after today’s 2 p.m. game against Washington State in Gill Coliseum. The Cougars, who started 5-0 in the conference are now 5-2 after losing at Oregon, 82-66, on Friday.

Cougars Wrap Up Road Trip Sunday Against Oregon State - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Washington State University (11-8, 5-2 Pac-12) closes out its Oregon road trip Sunday against Oregon State University (11-8, 3-4 Pac-12) at 2 p.m. in Corvallis.