Arizona football opens as double-digit favorite at Washington State

Arizona football opens as double-digit favorite at Washington State

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Arizona football opens as double-digit favorite at Washington State
TUCSON, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 19: Chris Hunter #11 of the Arizona Wildcats dives into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Casino Del Sol Stadium on September 19, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Patrick Mulligan/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In Year 1 of the Brent Brennan era, Arizona football had one of the worst records in the country of covering the spread. After a major improvement in 2025 (8-5 against the spread), Brennan’s third year is looking a lot like his first.

The Wildcats failed to cover for the third consecutive week, beating Northern Illinois 42-17 in a game the UA was favored to win by 32+ points. Arizona is one of six power conference teams that has yet to cover ATS.

Arizona can earn its first cover on Saturday when it travels to Pullman, Wash. to take on Washington State, a matchup the Wildcats are favored to win by 12.5 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under is 49.5 points.

The game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. MST and will be televised on CBS. Washington State, under first-year head coach Kirby Moore, is 1-2 and coming off a 48-7 win over FCS program Duquesne. The Cougars are 2-1 ATS, having covered against Duquesne and in their season opening loss to Washington.

The former Pac-12 foes (Washington State is part of the new-look Pac-12) have a long history, with Arizona winning the last meeting 44-6 in Pullman in 2023.

The Cougars had won five of the six previous meetings. Prior to 2023, Arizona’s last win at Washington State came back in 2014.

Brennan coached against Washington State once while the head coach at San Jose State, losing to the Cougars 31-0 in Pullman in 2018.

Washington State enters Saturday’s game with a negative 41 point differential against FBS programs. The Cougars fell to Washington 24-10 in Week 1 followed by a 34-7 defeat to Kansas State in Week 2.

The Cougars average just 134 passing yards per game behind the play of quarterback Caden Pinnick. The sophomore transfer from UC Davis has thrown 403 total yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Pinnick is a dual threat quarterback, with 166 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns.

Junior running back Kirby Vorhees leads the team with 171 rushing yards to go along with two touchdowns.

Sophomore safety Jaylen Thomas, a San Jose State transfer, is responsible for the team’s two interceptions, which both came against Kansas State.

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