Pac-12 Networks, DISH Reach Deal Before Saturday Games

The Pac-12 and DISH Network came to an agreement early Saturday morning to carry the league's Pac-12 Networks. The agreement comes just in time for DISH customers to see six games on Saturday, including Washington State's matchup with Eastern Washington.

Mike Leach and the Cougars' home opener against Eastern Washington can be seen on DISH channel 446.

"Now Pac-12 Networks is available through more than 40 television providers, including four of the top five largest distributors in the United States," the network said in a statement.

Talks with the other major sattelite provider, DirecTV, are ongoing.

DISH subscribers are being given a free trial of the Pac-12 Networks this weekend. The other games being shown by the Pac-12 Networks on Saturday are:

• Sacramento State at Colorado, 12:00 p.m. PT, Ch. 445
• Eastern Washington at Washington State, 12:00 p.m. PT, Ch. 446
• Southern Utah at California, 12:00 p.m. PT, Ch. 413
• Fresno State at No. 4 Oregon, 3:30 p.m. PT, Ch. 413
• No. 18 Oklahoma State at Arizona, 7:30 p.m. PT, Ch. 413
• Duke at No. 25 Stanford, 7:30 p.m. PT, Ch. 445

For more on Wazzu football, visit Washington State blog Coug Center. Also be sure to check out Pacific Takes, SB Nation's Pac-12 blog. For the latest on all things college football, be sure to check out SB Nation's college football hub.

Eastern Washington Vs. Washington State 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Odds And More

Fresh off their 30-6 season opening loss to BYU, the Washington State Cougars will attempt to even their record Saturday when they host the Eastern Washington Eagles.

The game will be the first home game of Mike Leach's WSU career and will also be the first game played in the newly remodeled Martin Stadium. Martin Stadium now features a new press box and luxury seating, a project which began in November and was completed just in time for the home opener.

If the Cougars are going to get a win against the Eagles, they are likely going to need better offensive production than what they got against BYU. WSU failed to score a touchdown against BYU and gained just 224 total yards, including negative five rushing yards.

Eastern Washington enters the game 1-0 after beating Idaho 20-3 in their season opener. The Eagles featured a well balanced attack against the Vandals, passing for 260 yards and rushing for another 152 yards. Junior receiver Brandon Kaufman caught five passes for 148 yards against Idaho and will provide a challenge for the WSU secondary.

Game Time: 12 p.m. PT

Location: Martin Stadium, Pullman, Washington

Television: Pac-12 Network

For more on Wazzu football, visit Washington State blog Coug Center, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes.

College Football Expert Picks: Wazzu Cougars Favored Over Eastern Washington

The Mike Leach era at Washington State did not get off to a good start last week. Fortunately for Leach, the coaching staff and the Cougars, they face an Eastern Washington team that enters as heavy underdogs on Saturday night. Most experts around the country feel Wazzu will pick up their first win of the season this weekend; here is a look at what a few of them had to say.

Here are Ted Miller and Kevin Gemmell of ESPN's Pac-12 blog:

Kevin: Washington State 28, Eastern Washington 14. The Cougs let me down last week, but I'm cautiously picking them again this week. I think the offense gets going. The defense actually showed some life in the second half against BYU, giving hope that it will carry into this week.

Ted: Washington State 35, Eastern Washington 24. If I were picking an FCS team to play, the Eagles might be the last one I'd pick -- just ask Washington. There's a reason the Cougars have avoided their neighbors since 1908. Still, I suspect the Cougs' offense will get going this week.

Here is SB Nation's Dan Rubenstein with a few picks for this weekend's biggest matchups.

For more on Washington State football, be sure to check out Coug Center.

Pac-12 Football Power Rankings: UW in 4th, WSU Checks In At 10th

The Washington Huskies had a tough time in their season opener against San Diego State, but emerged victorious as they head to the meat of their 2012 schedule. The Washington State Cougars struggled on Thursday, with a 30-6 loss to BYU in their first game of the Mike Leach era.

CBSSports.com has ranked the football teams in the Pac-12. Here is what they had to say about UW:

4. Washington (1-0): The win over San Diego State was nice, but now Washington has real things to worry about: like a trip to Death Valley to take on No. 3 LSU. If the Huskies -- who are early 22-point underdogs -- want to pull off the upset in Baton Rouge, they're going to need more than the 106 yards they got from their running game against San Diego State

And WSU:

Washington State (0-1): Besides the fact that there were a lot Cougars on the field Thursday, it's tough to take anything away from WSU's loss to BYU. BYU could end up being a top-20 team this season and if that's the case, then the 30-6 loss doesn't look so bad for Washington State. The one thing to keep an eye will be QBJeff Tuel. Tuel looked lost at times running Leach's Air Raid offense. If Tuel can't keep the pirate happy, he may have to walk the plank AKA get benched in favor of Connor Halliday.

The teams will look to improve their standing in the Pac-12, with both in action this Saturday. The Huskies face a difficult test as they head to Baton Rouge, La. to take on the LSU Tigers. The Cougs will open their home schedule by inviting Eastern Washington to Pullman.

For more on the Huskies, head to UW Dawg Pound. For all things Washington State, make a visit to CougCenter.

Washington State Vs. BYU 2012: Mike Leach Era Begins In Losing Fashion

Mike Leach's debut as Washington St.'s head coach was not one to remember. The BYU Cougars dominated the Washington St. Cougars, 30-6, at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Thursday night.

Washington State failed to score a touchdown in its first game using Leach's well known Air Raid offensive system. BYU's defense only allowed a pair of Washington St. field goals in the third quarter. BYU's quarterback Riley Nelson threw two touchdowns, completed 25-for-36 passes for 285 yards.

In addition to Nelson's pair of touchdowns in the first half, freshman backup quarterback Taysom HIll threw an 18-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter, converting in a 4th-and-1 situation.

Washington St. struggled on third down, converting on only five out of 15 attempts. Quarterback Jeff Tuel also threw two interceptions, finishing the day with 229 yards on 30-for-45 passing. Standout Marquess Wilson led WSU with 61 receiving yards on four receptions.

Next Saturday, Washington St. hosts Eastern Washington for a 12:00 p.m. kickoff at Martin Stadium.

For more on Wazzu football, visit Coug Center. For more on BYU football, visit blog Vanquish The Foe.

Washington State Vs. BYU 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Spread And More

The Mike Leach era at Washington State will officially begin Thursday, but Leach and the Cougars will not have a soft landing to begin the 2012 season. Instead, WSU will travel to Provo, Utah to face a talented and experienced BYU team.

Leach will make his Wazzu debut on national television as the game, which begins at 7:15 p.m. PT, will be broadcast on ESPN. The Cougars finished 4-8 last season but begin the 2012 season with aspirations of reaching a bowl game for the first time since 2003.

WSU is likely to lean heavily on its offense which is led by senior quarterback Jeff Tuel. Tuel played in just three games during an injury plagued 2011 campaign, but he is healthy and poised to put up big numbers in Leach's Air Raid offense.

Tuel will have a great target to throw to Thursday as preseason All-American Marquess Wilson is back for another season. Wilson caught 82 passes for 1388 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and could possibly eclipse those numbers this season.

Game Time: 7:15 p.m. PT

Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah

Point Spread: BYU favored by 13.5 points

Television: ESPN

For more on Wazzu football, visit Washington State blog Coug Center, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes. For more on BYU Cougars football, visit BYU blog Vanquish The Foe.

Washington State Cougars Football Preview: Let The Mike Leach Era Begin

The Washington State Cougars kick off their first season under head coach Mike Leach and the Palouse has never been so excited.

WSU Vs. BYU Depth Chart: Mike Leach Releases First 2-Deep Of The Season

Washington State head coach Mike Leach has released his first depth chart of the 2012 season, and there aren't many surprises. The major question coming out of training camp has been the quarterback battle between Jeff Tuel and Connor Halliday. Tuel started every game as a sophomore, but was injured much of 2011. Halliday stepped in and impressed in two games last season, before suffering a liver injury that kept him on the sidelines for most of spring camp.

Leach is still keeping the starter at quarterback close to the vest, but Brian Floyd of CougCenter says that doesn't mean the decision is a secret:

Leach is still mum about his starting quarterback -- listing Jeff Tuel OR Connor Halliday as the starter -- but that's part of the game. We all know which quarterback will start, and it's been quite obvious for some time that Jeff Tuel will lead the offense onto the field, whether it's announced ahead of time or not.

The Cougars open their season against BYU Thursday night.

For more on Mike Leach and Washington State, head over to CougCenter. For BYU news, opinion, and analysis, make a trip to Vanquish The Foe. For all things NCAA Football, visit SB Nation's College Football hub.

Washington St. Vs. BYU Football Preview: Storyline, TV Schedule, Odds and More

Mike Leach and the Cougars take on BYU in a nationally televised game to start the 2012 season.