2009 College Football Odds: The Paul Wulff era got off to a rough start in Pullman as Washington State managed to win just two games a season ago. The Cougars finished the year with 11 losses and were just 1-8 in conference play, which, amazingly, let them escape the Pac-10 cellar. This season Wulff does have 15 starters back but no one is expecting much out of the team in 2009. Washington State Cougars 2009 College Football Odds at SBGglobal.com have the squad listed at +4500 odds to win the Pac-10 Championship.

Washington State, which entered the season with a depleted talent pool, did not adapt well to Wulff's offensive system last year. The team produced a miserable 12.7 points and 241 yards per game. It also averaged a negligible 95 yards rushing per game (2.7 yards per carry) and allowed 43 sacks. To top off the wretched numbers, the Cougars finished -25 in turnover margin.

Quarterback Kevin Lopina returns to Pullman to man the starting role for a second straight year. Lopina can only hope to wash away the memories of a dreadful junior campaign, which witnessed him throw for 841 yards, zero touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. 

Lopina's top target from 2008 is gone, but the Cougars' second leading receiver, the speedy Jeshua Anderson, will revisit the team. The backfield returns the top two rushers from a season ago, Dwight Tardy and Logwone Mitz, and also welcomes California transfer James Montgomery. Montgomery will likely be the starter when Washington State opens the season on September 5th.

The Cougars' defense equaled the offense's ineptitude last year, giving up 43.8 points and 443 yards per contest. The front seven struggled to hold opposing rushing attacks down as teams averaged 248 yards per game on the ground (5.8 yards per carry) against the beleagured unit.

The linebacking corps should be stronger this year, but inexperience along the defensive line will probably equate to another down year.

The secondary performed decently in 2008 and will, again, be the strongest part of the defense. Free safety Xavier Hicks ranked second on the team in tackles last year with 78 while cornerback Romeo Pellum was third with 65. Both palyers had two interceptions and over five passes defended.

The Cougars open the year with a home conference tilt against the Stanford Cardinal. They have non-conference games against Hawaii and SMU before traveling to California to take on USC on September 26th.

SBGglobal.com Washington State Cougars 2009 College Football Odds - BCS Odds 2010

Washington State Cougars Odds to Win the Pac-10 Championship:

+4500

Washington State Cougars BCS Odds 2010:

N/A

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