Portland State Vikings (0-0) vs. No. 25 Oregon State Beavers (0-0) Reser Stadium, Corvallis, Oregon Saturday September 5 @ 2:30 EST, TV: FSN (Fox Sports Northwest)
By Wilson of Predictem.com
Point Spread: Portland State +40.5/Oregon State -40.5
Over/Under: Not Offered
Bet this game at 5dimes
The Oregon State Beavers are no strangers to big games but this Saturday in Corvallis will be a laugher for the fans and the players. It should be a pleasant warm-up for the Beavers and allow some of the injured players to keep healing in preparation for UNLV the following week.
Portland State is not ranked in NCAA FCS football and is looking to improve after last seasons 4-7 finish. The Vikings are definitely the dog in this game but they have a pretty sharp leader in former NFL coach Jerry Glanville. PSU has not played the Beavers since 2005 when they lost in Reser Stadium 41-14.
The Vikings have 38 returning letter winners and 16 returning starters which is the best outlook head coach Glanville has had in his three years as the leader of the program. Glanville likes his chances and knows that he has a great group of athletes who he claims will grow each week and become better as a team.
Glanville also stated that the biggest change this season is within the coaching staff as they have three new coaches this year. The new staff includes offensive coach Brad Davis, wide receivers coach, Craig Stutzmann, and secondary coach Brandon Shelby.
Vikings senior QB, Tyque Howland is having ACL surgery and will miss the entire season. Interestingly, the Vikings have picked up Oregon State QB transfer, sophomore Justin Engstrom. PSU has their challenges but thats part of football. Glanville said that it was his intention to play a Pac-10 team every year and he was glad that OSU stepped up and said yes.
The Beavers are probably one of the most underrated teams around the country. Last year the Beavers finished the season by winning the Sun Bowl over the University of Pittsburgh. They also beat then No. 1 ranked USC Trojans in Corvallis as Jacquizz Rodgers stole the show by slipping through and running past the Trojan defenders.
OSU is currently ranked No. 25 in the USA Today Poll and not ranked on the AP Poll but they have several votes. Beaver fans are confused as to why their beloved team is not ranked higher in both polls. Maybe the press is waiting for them to prove they are deserving, but I agree with most fans, they should be bumped up a few spots based on last seasons performance alone! In comparing the Pollsters to the famous father in the Leave it to Beaver TV show, I think its safe to say that Ward is being a little hard on the Beavers!
The Beavers have most of their big play makers coming back as well. OSU will operate under the direction of two QBs in Lyle Moevao and Sean Canfield. Moevao is rehabilitated from injury and has been throwing the ball with more snap.
OSUs offense should be quite explosive both on the ground and through the air. Jacquizz Rodgers will have to earn every yard now that teams know how dangerous he can be in the open field as well as bouncing off would-be tacklers in the trenches. Rodgers rushed for 1,253 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, and he will likely raise increase his numbers in sophomore year.
OSU head coach Mike Riley is a great motivator and teacher, it shows from his programs recent successes. Riley will have his guys more than ready to go against PSU. It might be a weaker opponent but in college football anything can and will happen. The Beavers will not take PSU lightly.
Wilsons Pick: I think PSU will cover. Oregon State 42, Portland State 24. Luck to ya.
