What will give when Cougs’ offense meets Stanford’s stingy defense?

Stanford has allowed just 8.6 points per game this season, fewest among FBS teams. (AP)

WSU (2-4) at No. 25 Stanford (3-2)

• Kickoff: 6 p.m. Friday
• Where: Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif.
• Radio: 710 ESPN Seattle
• Line: Cardinal by 17

What’s at stake: For the 2-4 Cougars, it’s pretty much must-win time if they still hope to go to a bowl game. For Stanford, it’s a necessary game to remain in contention for Pac-12 North Division title.

Why the Cougs could win: Stanford has not faced an offense like this. Then again, Stanford has not faced a defense like this, either. When you score 59 points like the Cougs did against Cal and lose, you’ve got serious defensive issues, which surprises me because I thought we looked better than decent against Utah the week before.

I’m interested to see how the Cougars respond to the Cal loss after missing a 19-yard field goal that could’ve won it. Most indications from practice this week suggest that Quentin Breshears, who was wide right on the potential game-winner, will continue to kick field goals for Washington State.

I hope that’s the case because I’d like to see him redeem himself against the Cardinal. I’m guessing it must have been a rough week for Breshears, and if something like that is character-building, the kid will be a skyscraper someday. I still feel bad for him.

We’re used to seeing the Cougs go up and down the field on their opponents, but that might not be the case Friday night. Stanford allows 232 yards and 8.6 points a game and gave up only 17 to Washington State in a blowout win at a rainy CenturyLink Field last year.

Connor Halliday will look to bolster his darkhorse candidacy for the Heisman Trophy and would greatly improve his chances if he could show his stuff against a top-ranked defense. He’s thrown for 3,052 yards and 26 touchdowns and is coming off an NCAA-record-setting performance of 734 yards against Cal.

Why the Cougs could lose: For starters, Stanford is at home and has the better team. Seventeen-point favorites don’t lose very often.

Kevin Hogan is a mediocre quarterback, but he might be good enough to shine against the Cougars. It’s encouraging to note that the last time the Cougars played a so-so offense, they bottled up Utah. It’s also encouraging to note that the Utes beat UCLA on the road the week after they lost to the Cougs. There’s hope.

Of course with the Cougs, hope can turn into gloom in a moment’s notice. For instance: if Cal’s Trevor Davis can return back-to-back kickoffs for touchdowns, what will Ty Montgomery do Friday night? Montgomery might be the best punt- and kick-returner in the country. The week before, the Cougars gave up a punt return for a touchdown at Utah. All of this led to the dismissal of special-teams coach Eric Russell this week.

I’m guessing the player of the game will be Stanford tight end Devon Cajuste, who will probably have a big night at the expense of Washington State’s secondary.

Prediction: The Cougars are like the Mariners – some days you think they’re pretty good, other days you wonder how you could’ve thought they were pretty good. And sometimes, you see the good and the bad in the same game. I’m guessing we’ll see more of the good Cougs than the bad Cougs Friday night, but it won’t be enough to beat a superior opponent on the road. Cardinal 27, Cougars 21.

Season record against the spread:4-2

The Go 2 Guy also writes for SeattlePI.com and KitsapSun.com. You can reach Jim at jimmoorethego2guy@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @cougsgo.