Mike Leach is a college football coach and also a part-time comedian. He likes to talk about aliens, Bigfoot and pirates. He will need that sense of humor to get through this season.

While it’s dangerous to underestimate Leach, he’s probably in over his head this time with Washington State returning only 10 starters.

The past three years, Leach coached the Cougars to 9, 8 and 8 regular season wins. But this team is being rebuilt similar to the 2014 season, when Leach went 3-9.

He must replace Luke Falk, one of the program’s all-time great quarterbacks, plus the team’s top rusher and receiver. Leach is left with the Pac-12 Conference’s least experienced offense. A 6-6 record is his best-case scenario, and 5-7 or 4-8 seems more likely.

The play: Washington State Under 6 1/2 wins.