I don’t have much to say about this game.

Based on recent history, Colorado has been terrible (though, maybe improving?) and Oregon State has been good (though, seemingly in decline). OSU is sick of hearing their defense is terrible, so they’ll have incentive to silence the critics vs this bad opponent, but we said that last week…

Colorado will be eager for a win versus a PAC opponent they see as vulnerable and very beatable. This will give them confidence and motivation. Until they play defense, the Beavs are chum and everyone else is a shark.

Oregon State is at home, in front of all their critics (ha ha yeah right, a Beaver fan not on this site who is a critic) and thus in a relatively high pressure situation. They never seem to excel in these situations. But the moment you write that and get everyone on board is the moment there are too many fans in the wagon for my liking.

So what to expect? Probably some combination of all of these things. I think the OSU program is in a slightly better place so I will pick them to win, but this is the last game they can “not show up” and still win. I also think it’s the last game they can win without establishing a running game. Everyone expects the Beavs to be exposed versus Stanford. I think it can and will happen earlier than that if things don’t change. Washington State is a better version of Eastern Washington. Enjoy this last game before things get real.

Beavs 28, Colorado 24

Game thread.
Go Beavs. Win despite Ranker!

San Diego State is going with a new QB, Quinn Kaehler, this week. I watched some film on him. He’s a decent looking pocket passer. No threat of rushing, at least on film. He should have some success against the Beavs’ secondary, though since game 1 you can see Nelson improving. If he becomes lockdown, Reynolds stock shoots up and things maybe click.

Beavs, though atrocious on the ground thus far, should be able to run the ball on SDSU. I expect Ward to be serviceable and Brown to average somewhere between 4.0-4.5 YPC. Beavs will probably try to run more this week and try to get the ground game going since they’ll need it the back end of the schedule. If they get in trouble, they can fall back on the passing game.

I expect a short game with 150+ yards on the ground, Mannion a more conservative 250/2TDs, and the defense to look good vs a weak opponent and pocket passer.

The risk is Ranker is bad in games he’s expected to win. Keep expectations low for that reason.

34, 17 Beavs

The Pollyanas have some nerve peeking their heads out of their underground bunkers after this one! JP is on the prowl–lock up your children!

Like, everyone in America expected the Beavs would be 6-0 because of the ridiculously easy schedule. This was the hardest game, and they gave up ~50 points and won by 3 due to having three future pros on offense at key skill positions. Ranker (outside of a ballsy flea-flicker call, which would have been a terrible call had it failed) and the defense were a disaster.

The pressure was actually off the Beavs in this game because everyone thought Utah would win, which is why I waffled on gameday and felt the Beavs could pull it off. They are fine when there’s no pressure or expectations. The next few games are very easy, but the Beavs are expected to win them. That alone will make them closer than they should be. I think they beat SDSU and probably Colorado, but slip up vs Washington State. Say they are 4-2–that is an epic fail given this schedule and the top 25 opening ranking. Great teams and coaches seize opportunity.

There are many who will be happy at 4-2. To them I say, you are a born loser, but also enjoy the back end of the schedule and the Civil War!

Ps. I am neither happy nor upset the Beavs won. I don’t think in those terms anymore, but probably more happy since I can brag to friends when they have a good record. I realized NCAA football is all about living vicariously through jocks and having bragging rights with friends. But in general, I am just watching the freak show that is this staff, and mass rationalization that is “Beaver Nation” unfold.

Any game that has Mark Banker against an option offense makes for an interesting and volatile evening. I expect a lot of “told you so” tonight, either from those of us who feel Banker can’t stop this type of offense or those who feel he’s still learning how to stop it and one day everything is going to click (lol).

Beaverblitz is rallying the troops with a “Road Warrior” slogan, mentioning wins last year versus UCLA, Arizona and BYU. Those opponents did incorporate some pistol/read formations so maybe there is hope, but the Beavs won two of those games buy one score and gave up 1400 yards combined. Road Warriors might be a stretch.

The Beavs should lose this game, but I feel like everyone is piling in that bandwagon, and the majority is never right. Still, I expect a loss and to envision the injury excuse being played tonight.