It’s only Week 2, yet Washington State is facing the most dangerous game of its season.
Not the most important game, which comes next week.
Not the most difficult game, which is also next week.
But the most dangerous game — because of next week.
The Cougars are desperate for relevance in this unprecedented season. The best way to accomplish their objective? By toppling Washington on Sept. 14 in a weirdly early Apple Cup that receives maximum attention from fans, media and college sports power-brokers across the country.
If the Cougars are 2-0 headed into the showdown at Lumen Field in Seattle, the stakes are higher, the spotlight is brighter and the afterglow of a victory could last for weeks.
They would be ranked, relevant and rolling toward a bowl bid.
They cannot get caught looking ahead to the Huskies and stumble against Texas Tech.
To the extent that a team with a fraught present and an uncertain future can encounter a trap game, the Cougars have managed.
The Red Raiders are coming off an overtime victory over Abilene Christian, an FCS school from the United Athletic Conference that slapped them around for 51 points, 615 yards and a breathtaking third-down conversion rate (69 percent).
Are they as vulnerable as they appeared? Probably not. The Red Raiders won seven games last season, hammered Cal in the Independence Bowl and were picked to finish in the middle of the Big 12. They have more than enough talent to beat WSU decisively if all units function effectively.
The Cougars cannot fall for the misdirection play. They must ignore Texas Tech’s close call in Week 1, ignore their status as home favorite in Week 2 and, above all, ignore the opponent lurking in Week 3.
If they hope to maximize the immense value offered by an early-season Apple Cup, they must completely ignore its existence — at least until the final whistle blows late Saturday night.
To the picks …
Last week: 4-4
Season: 4-4
Five-star special: 1-0
All picks against the spread
Lines taken from vegasinsider.com
(All times Pacific)
Brigham Young (+11.5) at SMU (Friday)
Kickoff: 4 p.m. on ESPN2
Comment: The Cougars were more efficient and physical than expected in their Week 1 victory over Southern Illinois. Will the upturn translate into their first road victory in 50 weeks? Probably not. But they should cover a double-digit spread. Pick: BYU
Texas (-7.5) at Michigan
Kickoff: 9 a.m. on Fox
Comment: The Hotline has been skeptical of Michigan’s prospects since Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL, and nothing about the uneven performance against Fresno State last week changed our view. We expect the Longhorns to replicate the dominance we saw from them a year ago this week in Tuscaloosa. Pick: Texas
Cal (+13.5) at Auburn
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. on ESPN2
Comment: Coach Justin Wilcox is a first-rate road underdog, especially in non-conference games. The Bears covered (and won) at Mississippi in 2019, covered at TCU in 2021 and covered at Notre Dame in 2022. No reason to think they cannot handle that rather large number on The Plains. Pick: Cal
Baylor (+14.5) at Utah
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. on Fox
Comment: The line is based on how poorly Baylor played last season and how well Utah played last week. We think the truth is somewhere in the middle. Utes win, just not in lopsided fashion. Pick: Baylor
Colorado (+7.5) at Nebraska
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. on Peacock
Comment: One of the most-anticipated games of the week is the 73rd installment of an ancient Big 12 rivalry and a rematch of the Buffaloes’ blowout victory early last season. The Cornhuskers have improved more than CU since that game — they were the Hotline’s preseason sleeper pick in the Big Ten — but a notable disparity remains. We’ll gladly take the Buffs and the points. Pick: Colorado
Boise State (+19.5) at Oregon
Kickoff: 7 p.m. on Peacock
Comment: The Ducks aren’t nearly as flawed as they looked against Idaho, but we wonder if the breakdowns on the offensive line can be solved in just six days. The stout defense must be ready for Ashton Jeanty, the best tailback on Oregon’s schedule who doesn’t play for Ohio State. (Note: This game is only available on Peacock.) Pick: Boise State.
Texas Tech (+2.5) at Washington State
Kickoff: 7 p.m. on Fox
Comment: Mike Leach coached both schools, and his influence will be unmistakable in this Air Raid showdown. Is WSU’s secondary up to the challenge? That depends largely on the consistency of its pass rush. We like the Cougars to make just enough plays in the fourth quarter to remain undefeated. (Of note: Leach will be posthumously inducted into Washington State’s Hall of Fame this weekend and honored at halftime.) Pick: WSU
Oregon State (-5.5) at San Diego State
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. on CBSSN
Comment: Aztecs coach Sean Lewis was Colorado’s offensive coordinator for most of last season and wrote the playbook that OSU combated successfully during an early-November victory in Boulder. So the Beavers should have a firm grasp of SDSU’s strategy Saturday night. Even so, this feels like a greater challenge than the point spread suggests. Pick: San Diego State
Mississippi State (+6) at Arizona State
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
Comment: Is a major correction coming in Tempe? Or are the Sun Devils possibly as good as they looked against Wyoming? The truth will begin to reveal itself Saturday night. That said, Mississippi State might be the worst team in the SEC. Pick: ASU.
Straight-up winners: SMU, Texas, Auburn, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, WSU, San Diego State and ASU
Five-star special: Colorado. Tough to pass on Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter and, especially, that extra half-point. If the line were merely a touchdown, we might look elsewhere for the special. But CU and 7.5 points is irresistible.
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