Grip on Sports: A chance for a school-record 11th win has the Cougars smiling heading into the Alamo Bowl tonight

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Today is the day. Well, to be precise, tonight is the night. After weeks of waiting, preparing and celebrating, the Washington State Cougars will take on Iowa State in the Alamo Bowl. Will you be watching? Read on.

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• Cougar fans, those who bleed Crimson, not red, are wondering right now if that is a joke. Of course they will be watching, if not in person, than on ESPN. The game starts at 6, the parties a few hours earlier – and yes Gardner Minshew was right; the Cougars are undefeated when it comes to such things.

But there are others who read this feature every morning and we are addressing them as well.

If you are a Gonzaga basketball fan first and a Cougar football fan second, of which there are quite a few in Spokane, maybe not. The Zags host traditional rival (OK, that is a joke) North Alabama, and the game begins at the same time on KHQ.

A decision has to be made.

My guess is the folks who greet each other with a “Go Zags” instead of a “Go Cougs” will watch their team until Jack Beach gets off the bench, and then turn over to the Cougar game. They will probably check the football game’s progress during Pawn One commercials as well.

But a choice has to be made. Such was the case here. We couldn’t write a TV Take for both. As much as I would like to share my thoughts on Greg, Dan and Richard, as well as the game itself, it is not to be.

The Cougars’ chance to win a school-record 11th game trumps a nonconference matchup with a school that is just getting its Division I legs under itself.

• Will the Cougars win that magic 11th time this season?

The betting public doesn’t seem to think so. Most of the money bet since the bowl matchup was announced has been put on the Cyclones. WSU has gone from 6.5-point favorite to 2.5 or 3.

It’s not hard to understand. Washington State hasn’t played well in its last couple bowl games against teams with stout defenses, something that describes Iowa State.

But, as we have been saying all season, this team is different. It has a different personality. Its defense is solid, the offense more multi-dimensional. And this week, Minshew and his crew have something to prove. They feel the Apple Cup was more about the conditions than the performance. They want the nation – or at least those folks not watching the Bulldogs – to see what they can really do.

This is their only chance to redeem themselves from that disappointing Friday night performance five weeks ago.

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Gonzaga: The Bulldogs are, in some spots, a 40-point favorite tonight. Jim Meehan has a preview of the game with the Lions as well as a look at the key matchup. North Alabama relies on its guards to get things done. … The women will open West Coast Conference play tomorrow at Loyola-Marymount. Gonzaga is the favorite again in the conference. Jim Allen has a preview. … Around the WCC, BYU’s poor nonconference results have the Cougar faithful wondering if their team will make the NIT, let alone the NCAAs.

WSU: Washington State is out to make history. It seems appropriate in a city with the most venerated building in Texas, one that played a key role in the state’s history – and of which the bowl game is named. The Cougars are shooting for win No. 11 in this most surprising of seasons. Theo Lawson has a preview and the keys to victory. He also explains why he believes Washington State will win and cover the point spread. … Theo and Larry Weir spoke for the latest Press Box pod. … John Blanchette is also in San Antonio and he is all in with bowl mania. … Tyler Tjomsland has a photo report from Wednesday’s pep rally. … There is this story on The Athletic site concerning the Cougars’ running back tandem. It was written by someone you know. Ethically, I’m not sure it’s appropriate for me to recommend it, but what the heck. Give it a read.

Elsewhere in the Pac-12, a traditional Rose Bowl – Pac-12 versus Big Ten – is on tap. That makes Washington’s fans happy. Jake Browning’s quarterback play hasn’t always done that. He and running back Myles Gaskin are intertwined in UW history. … The Huskies seem to match up well with Ohio State in what should be a high-scoring Rose Bowl. … It’s been a while since Oregon has won a bowl game. Heck, other than Utah, it’s been a while since a Pac-12 team has won a bowl game. … California didn’t, and the Bears aren’t happy. … Stanford relies on its kicker for a lot of its points. … Colorado has a new coaching staff. … In basketball, will Arizona State be the conference’s lone NCAA team?

NIC: The two basketball teams were in action last night. The women won, the men didn’t.

Chiefs: There is some news despite it being Christmas break. There was a roster addition that should help the depth at goalie.

Preps: It’s a big weekend of prep basketball – I went out and watched a few games yesterday at the West Valley tournament that continues today and tomorrow – including GSL boys (with Gonzaga Prep at the Les Schwab Invitational) and girls in action as well as girls and boys teams from around the area playing in tournaments.

Seahawks: Tyler Lockett seems to have a knack for drawing pass interference penalties. … The Hawks seem happy Pete Carroll is sticking around. They also have a lot of players banged up. …The Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald thinks CenturyLink is the best venue in the NFL.

Mariners: Nelson Cruz signed with Minnesota. His tenure in Seattle was marked with personal success, if not team success.

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• As we said, our TV Take tonight will focus on the football game. The same crew that broadcast one of the Washington State losses (against USC) will be on hand. Dave Pasch, Greg McElroy and Tom Luginbill have the call. We will have the column after the game is done. … By the way, one of the best college basketball officials in America has retired. Richland’s Dick Cartmell is hanging up his whistle. Don’t miss Jeff Morrow’s story on his career. Until later …