The Cougs will have to find a way to generate passing offense without their two top receivers.

A contender in the Big Ten East will take one of the top teams from the Pac-12 in this year’s Holiday Bowl. The Michigan State Spartans will try to stop an aggressive offense when they face the Washington State Cougars on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on FOX (live stream).

This marks the eighth time these two teams will meet, with the Spartans leading the overall series, 5-2, although Washington State won the last matchup in 1977 by a 23-21 score. Michigan State has a long history in the postseason, and will be trying to nab Mark Dantonio’s 100th win as the Spartans’ coach. This will be the Cougars’ third straight bowl game, and the second season in a row they will play in the Holiday Bowl.

Time, TV channel, and streaming info

• Time: 9 p.m. ET
• Location: SDCCU Stadium, San Diego, Calif.
• TV: FS1
• Streaming: FoxSportsGo | FuboTV
• Odds: Washington State opened as 4.5-point favorites.

Michigan State vs. Washington State news:

• Typically a pass-heavy offense, Washington State will be without its top-two receivers, Tavares Martin Jr. and Isaiah Johnson-Mack.
• Michigan State has played in 26 previous bowl games, and the team has consistently found themselves in the postseason under Mark Dantonio.

The Holiday Bowl will be the 10th bowl game for the Spartans in 11 seasons under Mark Dantonio. No other MSU football coach has taken the Spartans to more bowl games. Dantonio is 4-5 in his previous nine bowl games, starting off 0-4 before winning four in a row to get back to .500 before dropping the last game in the College Football Playoff. The four bowl wins are also the most in school history.

• It appears that WSU quarterback Luke Falk was seen wearing a cast -- and then trying really hard to hide it.

As for whether this will have any actual impact on the game? I doubt it; Falk has had issues with his left hand before (you might remember he wore a splint on that hand for a significant portion of last season), and while it might cause a problem for someone who has to line up under center, Falk shouldn’t have any issues catching shotgun snaps.

• Looking like the next three-year starter for the Spartans, QB Brian Lewerke could have a similar career to Connor Cook at Michigan State.

Of all the things to come out of this season for Michigan State, the development of Brian Lewerke may be the most important. Certainly the defense was outstanding, and the young receiving corps looks like it is very legit. But without good quarterback play, there is only so far you can go.

The Cougs will be without their two leading receivers.

Similar situations have led to Washington State preparing for the Holiday Bowl game without two of the teams offensive weapons. Martin asked for his release from the program, which in turn was dubbed a “violation of team rules” resulting in his removal from the team. Martin finished the 2017 season with 831 yards receiving and nine touchdowns for the Cougars.

Johnson-Mack also asked for his release from the program, a request the team granted in mid-December. Johnson-Mack’s motivation for requesting a transfer was to be closer to his children in Florida. The 6’3, 216-pound receiver had claimed 555 yards receiving and five touchdowns this season for Washington State.

Michigan State vs. Washington State prediction:

Mike Leach’s team is just too much offensively for the Spartans to stop, and the Pac-12 team gets the win in this year’s edition of the Holiday Bowl. Washington State has been on the cusp of greatness the past couple years, but this bowl win gives them additional momentum heading into the offseason.

Be sure to check out all of our bowl predictions here.

---

College football's first bowl game was almost its last