Week 1: Washington State vs Idaho 9/3/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Washington State Cougars and Idaho Vandals do battle in week 1 of college football action at Martin Stadium on Saturday. The Idaho Vandals are coming off a 4-7 season and enter the first year under coach Jason Eck. The Washington State Cougars are coming off a 7-win season and enter year 2 under coach Jake Dickert.

The Idaho Vandals averaged 25.3 points and 359.1 yards per game last season. Idaho allowed an average of 31.5 points and 407.5 yards per game last season. Zach Borisch returns at quarterback after throwing for 300 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Terez Traynor and Hayden Hatten is a returning receiving duo that combined 900 yards and 6 touchdowns, while Roshaun Johnson was second on the Vandals with 400 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensively, Fa’avae Fa’avae returns after finishing second on Idaho with 72 tackles, Hogan Hatten had 2 sacks and Marcus Harris had 1 interception. The Idaho Vandals have enough returning production for them to build on last year’s efforts, but they do need a stable quarterback and Eck is a first time head coach. Spending the last several years at South Dakota State as an offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Idaho is giving the 45-year-old and former Wisconsin offensive lineman a shot.  

The Washington State Cougars averaged 27.8 points and 377.9 yards per game last season. Washington State allowed an average of 24.2 points and 377.8 yards per game last season. Incarnate Word transfer Cameron Ward will end up being the starting quarterback this season, a guy who was the Southland Offensive Player of the Year last season. De’Zhaun Stribling and Donovan Ollie are a returning receiving duo that combined 700 yards and 6 touchdowns, while Nakia Watson had 114 rushing yards on 36 carries. Defensively, Armani Marsh returns after 70 tackles, Ron Stone Jr. led Washington State with 5 sacks and Chau Smith-Wade had 1 interception. The Washington State Cougars lost a lot of production on the defensive side of the ball and some key playmakers on offense. There’s a bit of a shakeup here. However, Ward at quarterback gives Washington State a fighting chance to seriously compete this season, as he’s an electric playmaker and gives the Cougars serious upside.

The Vandals are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games. The Cougars are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall. The over is 7-3 in Vandals last 10 games overall. The under is 5-1 in Cougars last 6 non-conference games.

The Idaho Vandals have a new quarterback and coaching staff, so it could take some time to adjust to the regular season. The Washington State Cougars may have issues defensively, but there’s serious potential offensively, and we could see a lot of points this season. I’m not sure Idaho has the horses to hang for 60 minutes. It may not be pretty at all times, but this is a game Washington State should win comfortably. I’ll lay the chalk.