Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Who's the LA Bowl Favorite: Fresno State or Washington State?
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 2 years ago on
December 15, 2022

Share

Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl: Washington State (7-5) vs. Fresno State (9-4), Saturday, Dec. 17, 12:30 p.m. PT, (ABC)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK COLLEGE LINE: Fresno State by 3 1/2 points

Series record: Washington State leads 3-1.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

The Mountain West champion Bulldogs can become the first FBS team to win 10 games after starting the season 1-4. The Cougars are trying to win a bowl game for the first time since the 2018 Alamo Bowl, which would make Jake Dickert the sixth coach in school history to win at least eight games in a season.

KEY MATCHUP

Fresno State QB Jake Haener vs. Washington State’s secondary. Haener has been sensational since returning from the fractured ankle he sustained on Sept. 17 against Southern California, throwing 14 touchdown passes to two interceptions in six games. The gutty senior will try to end his college career by leading the Bulldogs to a seventh straight win as the starter, which would be the team’s ninth in a row. To do so, Haener will have to attack an aggressive group of defensive backs. S Sam Lockett III led the Cougars with three interceptions, and Chau Smith-Wade (32 solo tackles, eight pass breakups, two interceptions) and Derrick Langford Jr. (24 solo tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions) excel at cornerback.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Washington State: QB Cameron Ward had an erratic start adjusting to life in a Power 5 conference, but he didn’t throw an interception over the final five games. Ward should be able to extend plays against a Bulldogs defense that ranked 79th in the FBS in sacks.

Fresno State: WR Nikko Remigio was one of five FBS players to return two punt returns for touchdowns, going 70 yards for a score in the Mountain West title game against Boise State. Remigio also has 69 receptions for 768 yards, ranking second for the Bulldogs in both categories, and his five touchdown catches are tied with Jalen Moreno-Cropper for the team lead.

Jaylen Moreno-Cropper (5) leads the Bulldogs receiving corps with 79 receptions for 1,044 yards and five TDs. (GV Wire File)

FACTS & FIGURES

The Cougars will be without offensive coordinator Eric Morris, who was hired as head coach at North Texas, and defensive coordinator Brian Ward, who took the same position at Arizona State. LB Daiyan Henley opted out of the bowl game after ranking second in the Pac-12 in tackles (106) and third in tackles for loss (12)

The Mountain West champion is playing a Pac-12 team in its bowl game for the seventh time in the past 10 seasons. It is 4-2 in such matchups, with Utah State defeating the Oregon State 24-13 in the inaugural LA Bowl last season.

The Bulldogs are 3-1 in bowl games against Pac-12 foes, including a 31-20 win over Arizona State in the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl. This is the first time Fresno State will have played three Pac-12 teams in the same season. They lost 35-32 to Oregon State and 45-17 at USC early in the season.

Excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Washington State is playing in a bowl game for the seventh straight season to extend the longest streak in school history.

Washington State scored on 91% of red-zone possessions (43 of 47), which led the Pac-12 and ranked 10th nationally. They scored touchdowns on 34 of those drives (72%).

Fresno State CB Cam Lockridge has five interceptions, the most in a season by a Bulldog since 2013. He had two in the Mountain West title game and was named defensive MVP.

Washington State RB Nakia Watson had back-to-back games with 100 yards rushing this season, becoming the first Cougar to do so since 2005.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

President Trump’s Tariffs Could Be the Political Tipping Point

DON'T MISS

Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

DON'T MISS

As Dem Candidates for Governor Increase, They Wait for Harris to Decide

DON'T MISS

No More Calling ‘Shotgun?’ CA Could Ban Teens From Riding in Front Seat

DON'T MISS

Protests Planned All Over the World Aimed at Donald Trump and Elon Musk

DON'T MISS

Average US Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage Dips to 6.64% for the Second Drop in 2 Weeks

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Christopher Robert Sharkey

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Arrested in Armed Robbery After Search Warrant Executed

DON'T MISS

Diehard Baseball Fans in Sacramento Welcome Athletics and Hope They Stay Awhile

DON'T MISS

Carbon Monoxide Was Cause of Death of Brett Gardner’s Teen Son, Officials Confirm

UP NEXT

Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

UP NEXT

No More Calling ‘Shotgun?’ CA Could Ban Teens From Riding in Front Seat

UP NEXT

Protests Planned All Over the World Aimed at Donald Trump and Elon Musk

UP NEXT

Average US Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage Dips to 6.64% for the Second Drop in 2 Weeks

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Christopher Robert Sharkey

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested in Armed Robbery After Search Warrant Executed

UP NEXT

Diehard Baseball Fans in Sacramento Welcome Athletics and Hope They Stay Awhile

UP NEXT

Carbon Monoxide Was Cause of Death of Brett Gardner’s Teen Son, Officials Confirm

UP NEXT

Bettors Back Duke Men and UConn Women for National Championships

UP NEXT

Flores Homers, Matos and Wade Also Go Deep to Help Giants Cap Sweep of Astros

No More Calling ‘Shotgun?’ CA Could Ban Teens From Riding in Front Seat

30 minutes ago

Protests Planned All Over the World Aimed at Donald Trump and Elon Musk

41 minutes ago

Average US Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage Dips to 6.64% for the Second Drop in 2 Weeks

52 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Christopher Robert Sharkey

1 hour ago

Fresno Man Arrested in Armed Robbery After Search Warrant Executed

1 hour ago

Diehard Baseball Fans in Sacramento Welcome Athletics and Hope They Stay Awhile

2 hours ago

Carbon Monoxide Was Cause of Death of Brett Gardner’s Teen Son, Officials Confirm

2 hours ago

Bettors Back Duke Men and UConn Women for National Championships

2 hours ago

Flores Homers, Matos and Wade Also Go Deep to Help Giants Cap Sweep of Astros

3 hours ago

Fresno County Authorities Need Help Finding Family of Alejandro Solis

3 hours ago

President Trump’s Tariffs Could Be the Political Tipping Point

President Donald Trump called it “Liberation Day” on Wednesday as he unveiled reciprocal tariffs, but experts warn the move coul...

11 minutes ago

President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Evan Vucci)
11 minutes ago

President Trump’s Tariffs Could Be the Political Tipping Point

18 minutes ago

Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

26 minutes ago

As Dem Candidates for Governor Increase, They Wait for Harris to Decide

30 minutes ago

No More Calling ‘Shotgun?’ CA Could Ban Teens From Riding in Front Seat

On April 5th, the "Hands Off!" group will hold an international protest, including a Fresno demonstration at Fashion Fair Mall, urging Donald Trump and Elon Musk to stop their influence over vital social programs and rights. (Hands Off!)
41 minutes ago

Protests Planned All Over the World Aimed at Donald Trump and Elon Musk

A for sale sign stands outside a home on the market in the Alamo Placita neighborhood Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in central Denver. (AP File)
52 minutes ago

Average US Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage Dips to 6.64% for the Second Drop in 2 Weeks

Christopher Robert Sharkey is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for April 3, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
1 hour ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Christopher Robert Sharkey

Johnny Hernandez, 38, was arrested in connection with an armed robbery at Adina Valley Market on April 1 and faces multiple felony charges, including robbery and assault with a firearm. (Fresno County SO)
1 hour ago

Fresno Man Arrested in Armed Robbery After Search Warrant Executed

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend