Louisville at Oregon State
Written by Matthew Martz - Google +
No. 25 Oregon State will need to put its Week 1 loss behind it while focusing on the game at hand, and not looking forward to its upcoming meeting with another top 10 opponent, as they host the Louisville Cardinals in their 2010 season-opener at Reser Stadium on Saturday, September 18 at 11:15 PM EST. The odds show the Beavers –19 ½ over Louisville with a total of 52 points.
The Beavs have had plenty of time to think about all of the things that went wrong in Dallas against a top ranked TCU team that held the Rodgers brothers in check. James, who had just four catches for 75 yards, and Jacquizz who carried 18 times for just 75 yards.
But you have to give credit to the OSU defense, that in spite of being on the field for more than 22 minutes of the second half, kept the game close giving its flailing offense one last chance to ti the game with just over four minutes left to play. But they couldn’t get it done.
Making his first start for OSU, sophomore QB Ryan Katz, was at best inconstant, completing just 9-of-25 for 159 yards and two TDs. He will need to find his rhythm soon as he will be called upon to lead the Beavers through the most daunting part of its schedule that has them facing two top 25 opponents in their next four outings, including a non-conference battle at No. 3 Boise State next weekend.
Louisville’s win over Eastern Kentucky wasn’t pretty, but somehow the Cardinals managed to rack up 388 yards in a 23-13 win over the Colonels, while converting just 80 percent of its third downs, and surrendering 100 yards on 11 penalties. Something they cannot afford to do against the Beavers.
The Cardinals did however put on another dazzling ground display that has culminated in 359 yards in two games, behind a solid effort from senior running back Bilal Powell who rushed for 153 yards against Kentucky and 92 with two touchdowns last week against the Kentucky Wildcats.
I really don’t think that Bilal will enjoy those numbers against a well-rested OSU defense that will be determined not to repeat the 275 rushing yards it yielded to TCU.
A lot will be riding on OSU to get star running back Rodgers the ball, controlling the clock while keeping the Louisville offense off the field.
Rodgers, who averaged nearly 111 rushing yards last season, should have no problem taking advantage of a Cardinals’ defense that has allowed 696 yards through two games, giving up 230 on the ground to Kentucky in its season-opening loss.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Oregon State– The Beavers is a talented team, and despite Katz’s inexperience, they have a plethora of weapons that they can rely on. They have won eight straight home openers and if No. 1 is on his game, it’s sure to be nine come Saturday night.
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