Oregon State
vs.
Arizona
9/29/12
We’ll get a better idea of how good each of these teams can be after this Game. Both have shown glimpses of a good season ahead. Oregon State already has two wins against Top 25 teams in Wisconsin and UCLA. They beat UCLA last week at the Rose Bowl and were ahead the entire Game. Can they win another Game to justify their No. 18 ranking? Arizona on the other hand just got killed by Oregon 49-0. Things were looking up for them after scoring 59 points against then-ranked No. 18 Oklahoma State and then shutting out South Carolina State 56-0. Oregon brought them back to reality last weekend.
In last year’s Game, Oregon State won 37-27 as home underdogs. They have also won five of the past six Games in this meeting and eight of the past 10. Not only are they winning Games, but the Beavers are also 11-2 against the spread in their last 13 Games against Arizona. Arizona finds themselves as slight favorites in this one which hasn’t proved to be a good omen in this matchup.
Nick Foles is out and Matt SCott is in as QB of the Wildcats. He has been better than good, throwing for 1,205 yards and seven TDs. His downfall has been Four interceptions. SCott also has 199 yards and two TDs on the ground. Ka’Deem Carey is the main man in the backfield carrying the ball 80 times for 423 yards and five TDs already. The Beavers are tough against the run which means SCott will have to be at the top of his Game and take care of the ball. He’ll be looking early and often to his wide receivers, Austin Hill (23 catches, 369 yards) and Dan Buckner (25 catches, 303 yards).
The Arizona defense hasn’t looked all that great which was made evident in their 49-point loss at Oregon, but also when they GAve up 38 points to OK State. The Beavers aren’t loaded on offense, but as seen last week at UCLA, have the ability to make big plays.
Quarterback Sean Mannion carved the UCLA defense for 379 yards and two TDs. He’ll get another chance to shine against the sUSCeptible Arizona pass defense. Storm Woods has just 30 carries for 132 yards on the ground for Oregon State, but remember, they have only played two Games this year. Wide outs Brandin Cooks and Markus Wheaton aren’t huge targets, but they get the job done. The two have combined for 492 yards (of Mannion’s 655) and all three of Mannion’s TDs.
The Beavers have a chance to start the season with three straight impressive upsets. They look like a much better team than last year when they finished a measly 3-9. Arizona is also looking to revive a disappointing 2011 season in which they finished 4-8. The Pac 12 definitely looks tough this year.
It’s just two Games in for Oregon State and that’s simply not enough to make a sound judgment. However, at this point, it looks as though Oregon State has a defense that can make some plays. With that in mind, we’re going to go ahead and make a weak call on the under in this spot. Just an opinion. Under 56.5