The 2012 Apple Cup is the largest come back in the history of the series, and I had the great fortune of having been there in person. Now the Washington State Cougars and the Washington Huskies will face off for the 106th time on Black Friday, and the week before the game gives Husky fans a chance to constantly bring up their all time advantage in the series (67-31-5); but that series advantage is built off of a couple of factors that are no longer in play. Those two factors are:

• No scholarship limit
• 58 games in Seattle versus 34 games in Pullman

Since the NCAA put the scholarship limit in place in 1990, the Huskies lead the series by four games (13-9); and since both squads have entered their periods of mediocrity and crappy football (2003), the series is tied at five wins.

Also, since the Cougs started playing the Apple Cup in Pullman (back in 1982) the Huskies hold a seven game lead (19-12).

As I said the series isn’t nearly as lopsided anymore; and the Cougs have a chance to get another game back on that series lead.

Now to the current game, the Cougs and Huskies are entering the Apple Cup with winning records for the first time since 2001 — the first of the ten win seasons on the Palouse. Washington is looking for eight wins for the first time since the 2001 season, and Washington State is looking to guarantee its first bowl game since the 2003 Holiday Bowl versus Texas.

This is the most important Apple Cup since the Huskies wrecked the Cougs shot at a second consecutive Rose Bowl berth back in 2003.

There will be a lot at stake on Saturday, and it will come down to who is handing Bishop Sankey the ball; if it is Cyler Miles, then the Cougs have a pretty good chance at containing the Husky ground attack, while stopping the passing attack. If the starting QB is Keith Price…than Coug fans better hope that good Connor shows up, because this game is going to turn into a track meet.*

*Unless Price’s throwing sholder is still hurt, but he is starting anyway…but there is no chance that a college player in his last home game would play through the pain, right?

I have Washington State winning this game 24-21 in OT.