The Washington State Cougars have a lot of hype going into this season. Head coach Mike Leach is definitely the hottest hire of this off-season and gives the Cougars someone that makes their team exciting to watch as 2012 approaches. WSU isn't going to be a national championship contender this season, but they should be exciting enough to watch in every game they play.
However, are they good enough to become bowl eligible for the first time in nearly a decade? That might be a tall order, and the odds that are given probably aren't good enough to bet on. Bud Elliott of SB Nation filed this report on his latest projections regarding this season, and they don't have the Cougars doing all that well.
Washington State Under 5.5 Wins (-160), 5Dimes: If I could bet against the hype of Mike Leach taking Washington State to a bowl in his first season with the Cougars, I would. But not at (-160). This might be a play at -130. Mike Leach's presence has not resulted in any major talent upgrades on defense.
Washington State definitely will have an exciting pass attack this year, but there are a lot of other questions on their offensive line, their defense and overall talent level compared to the rest of the conference.
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