Washington State Football: Ranking the Cougs Away Games in 2014
By Josh Davis
Nov 30, 2013; Reno, NV, USA; Nevada Wolf Pack wide receiver Brandon Wimberly (1) catches a second half touchdown pass against the BYU cougars in their NCAA football game at MacKay Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports. BYU won 28-23.
#4 Nevada
The trip to Reno, NV could make for some really good TV if you’re a Coug fan, but it’s not super high on my excitement meter for this season. Still, this could be another Colorado State type, high scoring affair, which would leave the game open for anything to happen.
This time it would be nice to see the Cougars come out on top and they should. The Pack went 4-8 on the season and didn’t upset anybody (maybe San Diego State?) they shouldn’t have. The Cougs should be fairly large favorites if they get by Rutgers.
The importance of all games varies as the season moves on, but this one seems like the one that could have the most variation based on the game before it. If the Cougars take care of Rutgers as previously mentioned, this becomes more or less a ho-hum affair that all will expect them to win. Losing would be bad of course but a win wouldn’t impact the season too much, except to ensure a 3-0 start going into the Oregon game.
Meanwhile, if Rutgers came to Seattle and shocked Cougar-nation, this Nevada game becomes less of a major building block opportunity and more of a near-must win to get to bowl No. 2 in the Leach-era. Nobody wants to face a must-win in game two on the road, no matter how soft the opponent. I have no doubt the Cougs will win either way, but the final outcome from a fan perspective would be more relief than excitement.