Hot Cougar Action: WSU vs. Stanford community prediction

After a week off, WSU will be back on the field on Saturday looking for its first Pac-12 win. It will be a difficult task as the Cougars will be facing a very good Stanford team which has played well at home this season.

During the preseason prediction series, 33 percent voted for WSU. That was obviously an error in the poll calculation and will likely be closer to three percent this time around. Whenever a big upset in sports happens, someone always says "hey that's why you play the game" and since you never know, we'll poll the masses anyway

Stanford Profile:

2012 record: 5-2

2012 S&P ratings : 246.6 (WSU: 175.1)

2012 Phil Steele power rating : 147 (WSU: 122)

2012 home record: 4-0

Preseason prediction: WSU (33 percent), Stanford (67 percent)

Last week: Won 21-3 against Cal

All-time record vs. WSU: 36-25-1

Football

WSU running game productive despite stats - Spokesman.com - Oct. 26, 2012
PULLMAN – Nobody runs the ball as little as coach Mike Leach’s Washington State team.

WSU notes on a Thursday - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - Oct. 25, 2012
It was a typical Thursday practice for the Cougars today, as they spent a large chunk of time working on special teams before breaking into scout sessions and ending with Thursday Night Football. There isn't much news to pass along, but we do have a few notes, so read on.

ESPN GameDay: WSU flag doesn’t have to go far | Berry Tramel's Blog
On Oct. 18, 2003, ESPN GameDay was in Madison, Wisc., for a Wisconsin-Purdue game. A Washington State University flag appeared out of the crowd. That was Game 1 of a very impressive streak. Saturday on OU’s South Oval, the WSU flag will appear in the GameDay crowd for the 127th straight show.

102512 what to watch - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN
10. Quarterback shuffle: Jeff Tuel, come on down. You're the next quarterback for the Washington State Cougars. Again. Until you're not. Again. Is anyone going to hold that job for the rest of the year? Perhaps the better question: Does Washington State get a conference win this year?

Stanford looking to avoid letdown game | Anonymous | College | San Francisco Examiner

Stanford (5-2, 3-1 in the Pac-12) kept its Rose Bowl hopes alive by smothering Cal’s offense in a 21-3 victory last weekend, and the Cardinal simply needs to avoid a major letdown to beat Washington State at Stanford on Saturday and stay in the Pac-12 Conference title race.

Washington State at Stanford | Lindy's Sports

QB Jeff Tuel — Tuel, a senior, has reclaimed the starting job for now, due in large part to being more careful with the ball than Connor Halliday, who has thrown a conference-high 11 interceptions. The Cougars will need Tuel to play efficient but also to make some big plays if there’s a chance to beat Stanford.

WSU Football: Mike Leach Has Yet To Change Washington State All That Much - Pacific Takes

Mike Leach and the Washington State Cougars need to continue to look forward this year and focus on getting better, according to Mark Sandritter of CougCenter.