After finishing 7-6 last season and defeating Boise State in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, Oregon State will look to perform better during Pac-12 play and elevate their overall record. Senior quarterback Sean Mannion will once again lead the Oregon State offense and provide some stability for the team. While the entire schedule will once again provide the Beavers with some difficult competition, let’s focus on the first half of their schedule for now.
Oregon State Football Schedule Analysis: Games 1-6
Saturday, August 30th: vs Portland State 1:00 p.m. P.T.
Oh, no! Not another FCS opponent. Oregon State has lost to FCS teams twice in the last three seasons. After falling in dramatic fashion last season to Eastern Washington in the season opener 49-46, the Beavers have done more live tackling in fall camp this year than ever before. Will the struggle with FCS foes continue?
Prediction: The answer is no. Oregon State’s defense is full of leaders and veteran players who were on the team when Oregon State was embarrassed by Eastern Washington. Oregon State will not overlook the Vikings. Oregon State wins this one in a blowout.
Record: 1-0 (0-0 in Pac-12)
Saturday, September 6th: at Hawaii 7:30 p.m. P.T.
A trip to Hawaii highlights Week 2 for the Oregon State Beavers. The team that the Beavers demolished in Corvallis last season 33-14 will be looking to spoil the Beavers season early on. Hawaii quarterback Ikaika Woolsey appears to be the favorite to start on Saturdays. He appeared in five games last season, and struggled a lot. He threw for 143 yards last season with no touchdowns and three interceptions.
Prediction: Oregon State’s defense will get the job done again. The Beavers are far superior to Hawaii in nearly every area. Although Oregon State’s young wide receivers are untested, Sean Mannion will distribute the ball evenly using multiple tight ends. And if the Beavers can get the run game going, this game will not even be close.
Record: 2-0 (0-0 in Pac-12)
Saturday, September 20th: vs San Diego State (Time TBA)
The team that almost knocked off an unprepared Beaver team last year in San Diego will be looking to get the job done this time around. By this time in the season, I expect Oregon State’s offensive line to have plenty of chemistry and open up holes for Beaver running backs Storm Woods and Terron Ward to run through.
Prediction: Don’t expect SDSU to give the Beavers as much trouble as they did last year. If not for a last minute pick-six by Beaver cornerback Steven Nelson, Oregon State probably would have lost last year’s game. The Beaver defense will get the job done again, and Oregon State’s offense should finally be starting to figure it all out.
Record: 3-0 (0-0 in Pac-12)
Saturday, September 27th: at USC (Time TBA)
The Trojans, led by first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian, are fresh off of a 10-4 season and a bowl win. This should provide the Beavers with their first real test of the season. The Colosseum will be very loud. It is also a place where Oregon State has not won at in over 50 years.
Prediction: Although the Beavers should find a running game by this point in the season, USC has the talent and coaching staff to take down the Beavers and move the ball on a much improved Beaver defense. However, if the Beavers running game shows up and the defense plays well, don’t be surprised to see Oregon State leave Los Angeles with a 4-0 record.
Record: 3-1 (0-1 in Pac-12)
Saturday, October 4th: at Colorado (Time TBA)
Many will say that this is a trap game for the Beavers. This is because it is stuck between a physical game at USC, and a Thursday night home game against Utah. Colorado hasn’t done too much since entering the Pac-12 in 2011. However, Oregon State must not overlook anyone.
Prediction: Although Colorado should be much improved from their 2013 season, Oregon State still has the talent and leadership to win this road game in the mountains. Oregon State’s defense will once again play hard and send the Beavers to another win.
Record: 4-1 (1-1 in Pac-12)
Thursday, October 16th: vs Utah (Time TBA)
This one should be good. After squeaking past Utah in overtime last year 51-48, the Beavers will have the Corvallis crowd behind them as they face the Utes again. Utah quarterback Travis Wilson played well last season, but also inconsistently. He even developed into a runner last season, something the Beavers have always struggled to contain. Will the struggle continue?
Prediction: As much as the Beavers have struggled to contain a scrambling quarterback, Oregon State’s defense should be the best it has been in years. They will be getting into the backfield all day and if Travis Wilson struggles in the passing game like he did last year, it should be a sweet victory for the Beavers.
Record: 5-1 (2-1 in Pac 12)
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