4B lewiston tribune weDnesDAY, DeCeMber 27, 2017

HOLIDAY BOWL: Washington St. vs. Michigan St. l 6 p.m. Thursday, FS1 l Betting odds: Spartans by 1 COUGS GET HOLIDAY REDO After a lackluster performance last year in San Diego, WSU will aim for a better showing vs. Spartans > Washington State University Location: Pullman n Founded: 1890 n Enrollment: 29,686

Coach: Mike Leach Year: Sixth Record at WSU: 38-37 Previous head coaching gig: Texas Tech (2000-09) Overall re- cord: 122–80 Salary this year: $3.1 million Three keys for the Cougars Play the slots With the weird pre-bowl departures of outside receivers Tavares Martin Jr. and Isaiah Johnson-Mack, Cougars Luke Falk needs to be razor-sharp in his rapport with inside receiv- ers like Kyle Sweet, Renard Bell and Jamire Calvin. They’re the vets now. Move the chains Against good defenses, TDs are growing increasingly elusive for the Cougs. They need to accept that reality and focus on getting first downs and improving field position. They have a good field-goal kicker in Erik Pow- ell and a defense that’s staunch as long as you give it half a chance. Hercules Mata’afa Contain the quarterback Cougars’ undersized The Coug defense has made strides in dealing with mobile this year, but devastating D-lineman with one notable exception. Michigan State’s Brian Lewerke is no Khalil Tate, but he can inflict damage with his legs as well as his arm. Wazzu can’t forget that.

> Michigan State University Location: East Lansing, Mich. n Founded: 1855 n Enrollment: 50,344

Coach: Mark Dantonio Year: 11th Record at MSU: 99–45 Previous head coaching gig: Cin- cinnati (2004-06) Overall re- cord: 117-62 Salary this year: $3.24 million Three keys for the Spartans Daze and confuse The defenses that have thrived against WSU’s Air Raid have cleverly disguised their intentions, blitzed infrequently but effec- tively and, in the secondary, kept everything in front of them. The worst thing you can do against Luke Falk is be predictable. Start fast Wondrous Wazzu D-lineman Hercules Mata’afa likes to set the tone of the game early. That will be difficult this time because he’s sitting out the first half on a targeting suspension. The Spartans’ offense needs to capitalize on his absence, establish a lead and try put the Cougs in panic mode. Break their spirit Joe Bachie The Cougars do their best work when their various units are working together — when, for example, defensive takeaways are leading to offensive scores. Conversely, a Spartans’ sophomore middle balanced and inspired performance by their opponents can, with surprising alacrity, get the calls shots for the defense Cougs pointing fingers and falling apart at the seams.

WASHingTon ST. RESULTS Bowling for another postseason win DATE OPPONENT RESULT Sept. 2 Montana St. W, 31-0 With four bowl berths under his they’re still cringing from a 17-12 loss Sept. 9 Boise St. W, 47-44 belt as Washington State coach a year ago to a Minnesota team in Sept. 16 Oregon St. W, 52-23 (counting this year’s date at the psychological disarray, having lost Sept. 23 Nevada W, 45-7 Holiday Bowl), Mike Leach needs 10 players to suspension and staged Sept. 29 USC W, 30-27 just one more bid to match Mike an aborted boycott of the game. Oct. 7 Oregon W, 33-10 Price’s school record of five. And Against Michigan State on Thursday, Oct. 13 California L, 37-3 Leach has been at the school only the Cougars want to redeem them- Oct. 21 Colorado W, 28-0 six years, well shy of Price’s 14- selves in a sense that has nothing to Oct. 28 Arizona L, 58-37 year reign ending in 2002. But bowl do with their opponents. Nov. 4 Stanford W, 24-21 wins? Leach is still working on that. Recruiting showcase Nov. 11 Utah W, 33-25 During a 15-year span, three Cougar Nov. 25 Washington L, 41-14 coaches — , Price A certain segment of the Wazzu RECORD: 9-3 overall, 6-3 Pac-12 and Bill Doba — combined to win all fan base — the segment that looks five of their non-Rose Bowls, though for variety in the tourism aspect MiCHigAn ST. RESULTS Price meanwhile went 0-for-2 in of the bowl experience — seemed the Granddaddy of Them All. So slightly disappointed by the second DATE OPPONENT RESULT far, Leach is 1-for-3 in bowl wins as consecutive Holiday Bowl berth. Sept. 2 Bowling Green W, 35-10 Cougar boss. But you can be sure Cougar coaches Sept. 9 Western Mich. W, 28-14 voiced no complaints. For one Sept. 23 Notre Dame L, 38-18 Quest for redemption thing, the Holiday is considered one Sept. 30 Iowa W, 17-10 of the most accommodating and Coaches and players will often use Oct. 7 Michigan W, 14-10 smoothest-running bowls in the biz. Oct. 14 Minnesota W, 30-27 the word “redemption” as a diplo- For another, it affords WSU extra matic euphemism for “revenge,” exposure in the San Diego area, Oct. 21 Indiana W, 17-9 mainly because they want to stay which is increasingly important in Oct. 28 Northwestern L, 39-31 off their opponents’ bulletin boards. the program’s recruiting. Several Nov. 4 Penn St. W, 27-24 But the Cougars’ use of the word at members of the roster hail from that Nov. 11 Ohio St. L, 48-3 the moment is more sincere. They’re region, as does one of the plums of Associated Press Nov. 18 Maryland W, 17-7 playing in the Holiday Bowl for the the Cougars’ recent early-signing Mike Leach’s only bowl victory at Washington Nov. 25 Rutgers W, 40-7 second straight December, and class, receiver Drue Jackson. State remains the 2015 Sun Bowl. RECORD: 9-3 overall, 7-2 Big Ten