Use this post for your in-game comments, frustrations, ecstasy, etc.

Five key points I'll be looking at early on:

1. Do the Beavs come out of the tunnel fired up? They looked anemic before the Boise kickoff. Attitude is what's going to allow them to prevail in this game, because ASU has more talent. Further, will our geriatric fanbase be quiet and more concerned about people standing up in front of them, or are they going to get up and make some noise? Now that classes have begun, I expect a more electric atmosphere.

2. Ryan Katz–this game is set up perfectly for him to have success. Keep in mind Katz enrolled early and essentially has the experience of a Junior. If he doesn't click today, we can legitimately begin the Vaz discussion.

3. As with the last two games, 3rd downs on both sides of the ball will decide the game.

4. Watch the pass rush early on. If they aren't getting near Threet you can expect Hardin et al to look terrible again. You can also expect a blowout loss. Specifically keep an eye on Paea and watch if he's truly being doubled or if that is an excuse for his poor play–I'll bite my tongue and let you decide.

5. James Rodgers. First, does he play. Second, the Beavers' offense is very predictable with him in there–the ball is going one of two places 90% of the time. With Rodgers out, maybe that opens up. Don't get me wrong, I definitely want to see James out there, but there needs to be more diversity.

Have the booze ready, Beavlettes. I'm going with Gin, unsweetened iced tea, a slice of lemon, and a splash of 100% cranberry juice. It's low calorie and delectable. I call it the Angry Beaver. My lady Beav is making us a veggie pizza from scratch. Can't beat Saturday's in the fall, am I right?

From Wisconsin's rivals network:

Oak Ridge (N.C.) Military wide receiver Kenzel Doe is committed to Oregon State but he could end up at Wisconsin according to sources so keep an eye on that.

He also took a trip to Wisconsin without informing anyone.

He's a favorite of many fans on this site, so I thought this was big news.

Some more big news is that Tyrequek Zimmerman is being swayed by his good friend Jabral Johnson to decommit from Oregon State and commit to Arizona. While I don't believe this rumor–mainly because Arizona doesn't have a known offer to Zimmerman–they are known to be a package deal. Eggers is a good source, and he said both to OSU, so feel moderately confident in that for now. If Arizona officially offers, all bets are off. Actually, if that happens, look for Zimmerman to bolt.

You have to wonder how much of this is due to on the field performance. There are two schools' of thought on this: those who say a recruit will see that OSU needs help (i.e. immediate playing time), and those who believe a recruit with many options will go to the most prestigious, winning program. I fall into the latter camp. I think a lot of recruits are souring because of the team's performance. Do you think Johnson isn't in Zimmerman's ear talking about how embarrassing OSU looked on national TV? Meanwhile, Arizona is on the rise and quickly becoming a destination. Remember the days delusional Beaver fans called him Mike Stoopid? Yeah.

If you flip a coin 3 times with the results being 1 heads and 2 tails, you'd probably expect the 4th flip would be heads, correct? However, since the 4th flip is independent of prior events, the probability is, like all other coin flips, 50/50.

"Angry, why bring up esoteric crap like math? This is football!"

Good question.

Basically, to point out a fact that we fans sometimes forget: football games are independent events.

It would be easy to reason that since Arizona State has put up 500 yards a game in hanging with the big boys, and Oregon State has looked abysmal even in victory against a rebuilding little guy, that the Sun Devils will win the game. 

Well, for me this game comes down to psychology (what else is new?). On one hand we have the Beavers, who are absolutely desperate for a win. On the other, Arizona State, who are feeling like world beaters after playing well enough to beat two top 25 teams.

Here's an analogy: the Beavers are the bum who hasn't eaten (or had a "drink") in two weeks and sees you strolling down the street, whistling Dixie, and carrying a sack of leftovers from the Peacock. Arizona State, in this analogy, would be "you". Fat…satiated…not exactly looking for a meal. Who do you think wins a battle over them scraps?

The home crowd will be booing the Beavers' every failure, which should stoke the fire.

So I'm picking the Beavers, right?

Meh.

I guess?

I saw ASU, and their mobile QB, stalemate Wisconsin and have their way with Oregon (until the 7 turnovers were too much to overcome). Could the Beavs compete with either of those teams? No, I don't believe so, but football unlike mathematics is not transitive. Independent events, my friends, just like the coins.

Sure, ASU is bigger, stronger, and faster. The eyeball test tells me the game's ledger will read "L", but until the "psychological edge" argument fails me, I'm sticking with it. Now chant with me, Beavlettes: PSYCHOLOGICAL EDGE AND INDEPENDENT EVENTS, PSYCHOLOGICAL EDGE AND INDEPENDENT EVENTS! You can probably sense how much confidence I have in this one.

Beavs by the skin of their teeth.

27-24

It's easy to sit back in one's chair and scream, "Hardin should be able to cover Austin Pettis!" We base these beliefs off watching other games. We see the ease with which Oregon, Alabama, and even lesser teams like Arizona State play defense. But the fact remains, Hardin couldn't cover Pettis, nor could he tackle the Kellen Moore on a CB blitz, nor could he cover anyone against TCU. Okay, so that is the problem. What is the solution?

The same is true with the staff. We all see that Banker can't scheme for running QBs. Problem: obvious. What is the solution? How do we get rid of Mark Banker and get someone better? Or, how do we as fans make Mark Banker see the light? The guy is such a stubborn dinosaur that he'll play 11 Brandon Hardins before listening to fans' ideas. And let's once and for all debunk the notion that the Beavers shouldn't fire Banker because the successor could be worse. Talk about illogical and conveniently negative thinking–should a battered woman stay with her husband because the guy she dates next might hit her harder? Come on already.

And what about this recruiting problem? Recruiting is the heart of any program, so as a fan is it fair or even accurate to sit back and say, "4 star talent doesn't want to come to Corvallis" and remove all blame from the head coach? Is a fan (and media, who are huge culprits in this) who falls in love with the walk-on-success story doing their team justice? The problem here is obvious, but what is the solution?

What about the attitude of the team? Boise State and Oregon State get the same player, yet they don't get near the same results. That attitude trickles down from the head coach. Look at the numbers below. I compiled the ever-controversial "star" argument for OSU and Boise State's starters. 

Offense:

Defense:

That's a 2.14 to 2.09 overall roster average. What does this data say to you? To me it says we have the same talent as Boise State, and shouldn't get absolutely man-handled. It says the problem is attitude, will, and all the intangibles that come from mental fortitude. Riley understands these things exist as he talks about them, but he doesn't know how to implement the mindset. That is the problem. But what is the solution? How do I as a Beaver fan get a sports psychologist hired on this staff? Preferably one who can recruit. I jest.

As fans all we can do is truthfully write about and discuss the problems and try to put pressure and criticism where it is due. But fans cannot even agree to do that.  While this blog is active, it's overall sentiment is a voice in the wilderness compared to mainstream Beaver fans' thought. The average fan is content with a fifth tier bowl game, moral victories, and heart-warming walk-on success stories. And that brings up my final question: why are the majority of fans content with mediocrity, determined to see the light in disappointing situations, and willing to glorify sub par effort, talent, etc? Probably because they have self-worth tied to the product coupled with being unable to get over some losing streak from 15 years ago. That's the problem, but how do we change that mindset when human nature tells us that pointing out flaws only makes people more resistant to change.

These are trying times. The Beavers failed in the spotlight yet again, and I'm left reading the same old optimist sentiment stating that this is the norm and things will change. When?

Use this post for your in-game comments, frustrations, etc.

Five key questions I'll be looking at early on:

1. Can the Beavs get off the field on 3rd downs? This will be critical given their depth issues. If they can't, the Broncos will be even more effective running as the game goes on.

2. Conversely, are the Beavers converting their own 3rd downs?

3. Does Quizz have any lanes?

4. Are the coaches calling aggressive plays that results in touchdowns instead of settling for field goals?

5. Can the Beavs survive Boise's initial punch? When momentum is against them, can they find the will to counter strike?

These are the things that win games, so watch for them early on. Sit back and enjoy, boys…I'm off to load up on some gin.