#161 Oregon St -2, hopefully 3 over Washington - 2 Units #161 - Oregon St -2 over Washington - but waiting until Kick off to try and grab +3. If you play this now you will get a much better number than I did. I played this on the opener Sunday night and saw this go from -1 in a blink of an eye to -2 and then up to -2.5. The loss of James Rogers, Ore St's all star, all purpose wide receiver/kick returner, and team leader was already a foregone conclusion when I made the game Oregon St -7 over Washington in this spot so I was comfortable laying the 2.
Oregon St. HC Mike Riley has his team gelling once again at the right time of the year. A brutal road schedule which has seen them face the likes of the number 1, 2, and 3 ranked defenses in the country and still produce a 3-0 ATS performance, albeit 1-2 straight up.
Emerging Sophomore Oregon St QB Ryan Katz has been very impressive in this campaign, being named Pac 10 offensive player of the week and showing an uncanny ability to be the point guard of the offense, using 8 receivers against ASU two weeks ago and 9 last week on the road at hostile #9 Arizona.
The loss of WR Rogers is a key loss, but Oregon State might have a claim in being named Wide Receiver U of the Pac 10. Greats like TJ Houjmanzadah, Sammie Stroughter and others have come through a system which the most tenured coaching staffs in all the Pac 10. Without Rogers in the line up, Oregon State took the game to a very athletic Arizona St team and played nearly the entire game from ahead.
Conversely, Washington was a disappointment last week as the issues they faced against Nebraska, BYU, and even USC were all prevalent again in last week's loss to ASU. That being their inability to pressure the passer and hold teams from converting on 3rd down. Oregon State under Katz's stewardship was brilliant on 3rd down against a far superior Arizona defense (10-15).
The weather conditions, home field advantage, and momentum from the previous week's game against USC should have put the Huskies in a great spot to come through with the victory against ASU. But they just didn't have the quality to get it done, inconsequential of QB Jake Locker's flu symptons. This was a game the Huskies played from behind the entire time and ASU's lack of special teams prowess allowed Washington to even stay close.
A better coached, more balanced OSU side will not make the same mistakes or leave the same opportunities. I, like everyone, respect the market. That being said, I'm very hard pressed to understand the line movement putting Washington as a 2 point favorite right now with so many defensive issues and the lack of consistency on offense.
I'm going against my alma mater this weekend and like the Beavers to come in and control the line of scrimmage, time of possession for a 30-17 win...
