Gameday Against The Buffs
Its an unusual Gameday, and gamenight (not because its another night game, that's become the norm), for the Beavers.
It's the secnd consecutive gameday Saturday at Reser, and the only time this season that will happen. Its also only the 4th time the Buffs have ventured to Corvallis, and only the 6th time they will play the Beavers in the state (2 games were played in Portland decades ago). So its something we don't see very often. The last 2 times Colorado has come to Corvallis, the last time being in 2017, they left with the win. Only in 2013 have the Beavers won a game with the Buffs in Corvallis.
Colorado got the win last year as well, 37-34 in double overtime in Boulder. In a game Oregon State was favored to win, and achieve bowl eligibility.
So despite this version of the Buffs (1-5) being one of their worst, despite last week's 20-13 overtime win over Cal, the product in part of the latest in a long line of Folsom miracles, it would not be wise for Oregon State to take this one lightly, heading into a bye week before a trip to Seattle. The Buffs have not only lost, but struggled, last week not withstanding, to the extent the Beavers are 23.5 point favorites, this in a game with a very low 48.5 total points over/under projections. It's one of the largest margins any OSU team has ever been favored by.
So avoiding a trap game, and turning it into a party evening befitting a fun to watch win, should be on the agenda. Even in the event that prodicted poor weather for the first time this season eventuates.
Especially with the opportunity to earn bowl eligibility over a week before Halloween (another check-off on Coach Jonathan Smith's list of new things to do this season) at hand. Recent and not so recent history, coupled with the stakes at hand, should be enough to ensure a focused OSU effort, even with, or maybe also because, of having backup QB Ben Gulbranson looking to still stay undefeated as a starter, in place of still in concussion protocol Chance Nolan.
Gameday is always special, and its been a while since clinching bowl eligibility hasn't been a special accomplishment, or even one that can be assumed, at Oregon State.
It's not as big a gameday as the one down the road this week, but that is no one else's fault. And its still the Beavers' gameday toay and tonight at Reser.
What a perfect time for a special gameday to carry Beaver fans through the 3 weeks before the next one in Reser!
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com
(Photo by Andy Wooldridge)