20 Dec 10 College Football Odds: Oregon State Not Given Much of a Chance Against Oregon

Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesThe year started with a lot of hope in Corvallis as Mike Riley and the Oregon State Beavers looked to improve upon their 8-5 season that ended with a 44-20 loss to BYU in the MAACO Bowl in Las Vegas.Now, it’s all come down to playing spoiler to No. 2 Oregon’s chances of a national championship as the two square-off in the 114th edition of annual Civil War game.The latest college football odds show the Ducks at -16.5 over the Beavers with a game total of 54.5.A loss in Saturday’s game would end Oregon State’s season without going to a bowl game for the first time since 2005.It’s been an up-and-down season for the Beavs, and it all starts with sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz, who’s been a tough candidate, for the most part, and has shown a lot of guts as a first-year starter.Unfortunately, that has not equated to wins, as the Beavers took on a tough out-of-conference schedule that included Boise State and TCU.Despite Riley’s determination to pit his Beavers against some of the top-ranked teams, Katz has performed well, all things considered, including the loss of No. 1 receiver James Rodgers. He has completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 2,177 yards with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions and has led an offense that is averaging 24.8 points and 327.2 yards per game.Not bad, right? Wrong.It's bad when your defense is allowing 25.9 points and 400.1 yards per game.One of this year’s biggest disappointments has been the overall performance off running back Jacquizz Rodgers.Rodgers remains one of the best backs in the nation, but his production has been hampered by the absence of a consistent passing game, allowing the opposition’s defense to stack the box without fear of nfl throwback jerseysbeing burned deep. However, the preseason Heisman candidate has still managed 1,097 rushing yards with an impressive 14 touchdowns.When the passing game is on, Quizz is at his best, and Katz has been able to find No. 2 target Markus Wheaton a team leading 45 times for 538 yards and three touchdowns, along with TE Joe Halahuni, who has 29 catches for 376 yards and six touchdowns.For the Ducks, they have had just the opposite season as their rival from the North, undefeated in 11 games and one win away from playing in the National Championship for the first time in the program's storied history.The only way I see it is for the Beavers to come out swinging as they try to get out ahead early and often, as Oregon does have a tendency to start games slow, pouring it on in the second half.Of course, that will mean the Beavers already-shaky defense will have to do its best trying to contain dual-threat QB Darron Thomas, who not only has supplied the Ducks with a potent air assault, hitting Jeff Maehl for 857 yards and 12 touchdowns, but has been the second of a two-headed rushing attack led by Heisman contender, RB LaMichael James.James has had a monster year, rushing for 1,548 yards and 19 touchdowns.Equally as impressive has been an Oregon defense that has allowed yards and points sporadically, but has allowed an average of just 18.3 points and 332.7 yards per game.Matt’s Free Prediction: Oregon State +16.5While I am pretty sure the Ducks will win this one, I am not sure if they will cover the 16.5-point spread. The Beavers are a tough Buffalo Bills jerseyteam at Reser and always get up for their annual game against their bitter southern rivals. Take the dog and the points.Interested in making some money this college football season? Check out what our expert college football handicappers have to offer in their weekly college football picks.The year started with a lot of hope in Corvallis as Mike Riley and the Oregon State Beavers looked to improve upon their 8-5 season that ended with a 44-20 loss to BYU in the MAACO Bowl in Las Vegas.Now, it’s all come down to playing spoiler to No. 2 Oregon’s chances of a national championship as the two square-off in the 114th edition of annual Civil War game.The latest college football odds show the Ducks at minus-16.5 over the Beavers with a game total of 54.5.A loss in Saturday’s game would end Oregon State’s season without going to a bowl game for the first time since 2005.It’s been an up-and-down season for the Beavs, and it all starts with sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz, who’s been a tough candidate, for the most part, and has shown a lot of guts as a first-year starter.Unfortunately, that has not equated to wins, as the Beavers took on a tough out-of-conference schedule that included Boise State and TCU.Despite Riley’s determination to pit his Beavers against some of the top-ranked teams, Katz has performed well, all things considered, including the loss of No. 1 receiver James Rodgers. He has completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 2,177 yards with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions and has led an offense that is averaging 24.8 points and 327.2 yards per game.Not bad, right? Wrong.It's bad when your defense is allowing 25.9 points and 400.1 yards per game.One of this year’s biggest disappointments has been the San Francisco 49ers jerseyoverall performance off running back Jacquizz Rodgers.Rodgers remains one of the best backs in the nation, but his production has been hampered by the absence of a consistent passing game, allowing the opposition’s defense to stack the box without fear of being burned deep. However, the preseason Heisman candidate has still managed 1,097 rushing yards with an impressive 14 touchdowns.When the passing game is on, Quizz is at his best, and Katz has been able to find No. 2 target Markus Wheaton a team leading 45 times for 538 yards and three touchdowns, along with TE Joe Halahuni, who has 29 catches for 376 yards and six touchdowns.For the Ducks, they have had just the opposite season as their rival from the North, undefeated in 11 games and one win away from playing in the National Championship for the first time in the program's storied history.The only way I see it is for the Beavers to come out swinging as they try to get out ahead early and often, as Oregon does have a tendency to start games slow, pouring it on in the second half.Of course, that will mean the Beavers already-shaky defense will have to do its best trying to contain dual-threat QB Darron Thomas, who not only has supplied the Ducks with a potent air assault, hitting Jeff Maehl for 857 yards and 12 touchdowns, but has been the second of a two-headed rushing attack led by Heisman contender, RB LaMichael James.James has had a monster year, rushing for 1,548 yards and 19 touchdowns.Equally as impressive has been an Oregon defense that has allowed yards and points sporadically, but has allowed an average of just 18.3 points and 332.7 yards per game.Matt’s Free Prediction: Oregon State +16.5While I am pretty sure the Ducks will win this one, I am not sure if they will cover the 16.5-point spread. The Beavers are a tough team at Reser and always get up for their annual game against their bitter southern rivals. Take the dog and the points.Interested in making some money this college football season? Check out what our expert college football handicappers have to offer in their weekly college football picks.