Washington State started the season with a bang at 4-1, with a win at Wisconsin. But the Cougars finished the season 3-4. Fresno State has won its last eight games, and the defense allowed just 30 points combined over its last three. Fresno State has the edge because Washington State lost both its coordinators to other jobs and two linebackers, who shared snaps in the middle, and two starting receivers to the transfer portal. The game pits a weakened Cougars squad against a full-strength Fresno State team playing its best. Bulldogs cover.

LA Bowl from, well, it should be obvious. Two good quarterbacks in Fresno's Jake Haener and Washington State's Cam Ward. Fresno State has won eight straight games and has allowed more than 16 points only twice. I was tempted to take the Under instead of a side (still might), but Wazzu has been gutted by transfers and opt outs, including two of the team's top wideouts in Donovan Ollie and De'Zhaun Stribling as well as star linebacker Daiyan Henley, a first-team All-Pac-12 pick, among a few other starters. Defensive coordinator Brian Ward departed to take the same position at Arizona State.