The Associated Press
No. 15 Arizona (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) at Washington State (2-5, 1-3), 6 p.m. (Pac-12 Washington)
Line: Arizona by 2 1/2
Series Record: Arizona leads 25-14
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Arizona can become eligible for a bowl game and seek to keep pace with other leading teams in the Pac-12 South. Washington State must win four of its remaining five games to become bowl eligible, and a loss at home would hurt those hopes. The Cougars are going to need to pull an upset or two to get to six wins.
KEY MATCHUP
Washington State offense, which leads the nation with 490 passing yards per game, against the Arizona secondary. Washington State’s ever-changing secondary against the Arizona pass attack led by freshman QB Anu Solomon.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Washington State: QB Connor Halliday is the nation’s passing leader, having thrown for 3,344 yards and 28 touchdowns already in coach Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense. He owns three of the top six passing performances in FBS this season, including an NCAA record 734 yards against California. Halliday needs 139 yards to break Alex Brink’s career record of 10,913 passing yards at WSU.
Arizona: Anu Solomon has thrown for 1,741 yards, with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. But top running backs Terris Jones-Grigsby and Nick Wilson are hurting, and may be replaced by Jared Baker and Adonis Smith. WR Cayleb Jones has 39 catches for 592 yards and six touchdowns.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Washington State has three receivers who already have at least 50 catches and more than 600 yards this season: Vince Mayle (57, 781 yards), River Cracraft (57, 676) and Isiah Myers (53, 627). Each of the three also has seven touchdown passes … Washington State rushes for only 44.7 yards per game … Washington State’s 24-17 win in Tucson last season helped jumpstart the Cougars into their first bowl game in a decade … Arizona is coming off a bye following its first loss of the season, to Southern California, and will play six consecutive games … Arizona leads the Pac-12 with 557 total offense yards per game, followed by WSU with 534 … The Wildcats outscore opponents 145-77 in the second half.
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