Washington State Cougars (4-1) vs. USC Trojans (5-0)
The Washington State Cougars will try to stop their three-game losing streak against the USC Trojans when they visit Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Week 6 of the 2022 college football season. Another frenzy Saturday is upon us, and the Trojans are listed as firm 13-point home favorites with a total of 65.5 points.
Last year, USC routed Washington State 45-14 as a 7.5-point road fave. The Trojans are undefeated in three straight outings at home and have covered the spread in three of their previous four showings in front of the home fans.
The Washington State Cougars (1-1 conf.) bounced back from a heartbreaking 44-41 loss to the No. 15 Oregon Ducks and beat the California Golden Bears 28-9 in Week 5. Cameron Ward tossed for 343 yards, three touchdowns, and a couple of interceptions, while the Cougars’ run D dominated the Golden Bears, allowing a paltry 31 yards on 24 carries.
“I'm proud of this team and how it responded,” Washington State coach Jake Dickert said. “This was the prettiest, ugly, gutty win we knew we needed to have. To come back the next week … just shows the type of team we can be.”
POSTGAME NOTES | Cougs tally 7 more TFL, Renard Bell moves breaks into record book and a Tight En d TD!#GoCougs | #WAZZU
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) October 2, 2022
The Cougars were so close to upsetting the Ducks in Week 4, but Cameron Ward threw a pick-six to give Oregon a ten-point lead with 1:01 left on the clock in the fourth quarter. Ward, who spent the last two years at Incarnate Word, now has 1,440 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 2022.
Nakai Watson leads the Cougars’ backfield with 62 totes for 312 yards and two scores. He’s also accounted for 149 yards and a TD on 12 receptions, as the Cougars average just 91.6 rushing yards per game (122nd in the nation) and 3.7 per carry (tied-96th). Washington State heavily leans on its defense and allows 18.2 points per game (tied-25th). The Cougars’ run D ranks 19th in the country (96.4 yards per game).