The Beavers are underdogs again this year.
As many of you know, I write for Lindy’s Sports when it comes to Oregon State football team topics.
The annual preview edition of the magazine is out, so let’s look at how Lindy’s forecasts the season.
The top-10 going into the season is: 1. LSU, 2. USC, 3. Alabama, 4. Oklahoma, 5. Oregon, 6. Georgia, 7. Michigan, 8. Florida State, 9. Arkansas, 10. West Virginia.
Wisconsin, OSU’s second opponent this season, is No. 17 and Stanford is No. 21.
Oregon State checks in at No. 65 in that nation, No. 11 in the Pac-12 and last in the North. The comment with the ranking is: “Rough patch (eight wins in two years) for respected coach Mike Riley.”
In a bad sign for the Beavers, none of their players are in the top players by position. That’s surprising because of all the love CB Jordan Poyer is getting on the watch lists, including as a returner.
He does make second-team all-conference team, as does DE Scott Crichton. WR Markus Wheaton and OT Michael Philipp are third-team offense.
Conference rankings by units: QB (7), RB (10), WR (3), OL (11), DL (8), LB (10), DB (4), Special teams (8).
On the Heisman watch, the Beavers face three players who will be looking to put up big numbers: USC Q Matt Barkley (if both in Pac-12 title game), Wisconsin RB Montee Ball and Oregon RB De’Anthony Thomas.
20 comments
mike says:
Jul 14, 2012
My prediction is that the ducks think they are deep, but LMJ was a special back, and Barner will be no replacement. Plus black mamba will get mashed this year as teams will be aiming for him, unlike last year.
The beavs will finish with 4 wins – one in the CW.
calbeav says:
Jul 14, 2012
I think the RBs and the LBs are better than 10, but it will take a better effort from the OL and DTs to show it. I like that there is a good player on every level of the D, and I wouldn’t be suprised to see Wynn line-up in a DT slot the way he has been gaining weight. Welch will emerge this year to give us really good edges. Offense- wise the running game has to be better (it couldn’t be worse could it?!) and Mannion is a talented kid that works hard with a great WR core. The O will be better. I don’t think WSU catches OS this year(they’ve seen this O before at Zona), I am doubtful that Cal will have the LB’s to make their system as potent and the O does not look impressive either. Probably Tedfords last year. If the OS offense scores more points than UW they have a shot their too. I see Beavs finishing 3rd in North and squeak in for a Bowl. How’s that for some predictions! I do wish they were playing Wyoming or something instead of BYU…
On another note, E. Washington is going to get really upset if OS keeps stealing their recruits- common guys, close some deals eh!
pddrad says:
Jul 14, 2012
its just pre-dicks they only go on what most did last year and they throw in the scrimmages when we all know that don’t say to much sense your only playing your own players. i did see Athlon gave the beav’s more love haven’t seen sporting news yet!
pddrad says:
Jul 14, 2012
we don’t play USC! if we do cliff that will be in the championship game for the roses. i hope you get this right i would love to see us get to play barkley this year wynn will go crazy on him. him and poyer will come alive
OS_Beaver says:
Jul 14, 2012
Don’t like going from 13th in the nation to 65th. Part of the Gameday Improvements should be some sweet 80″ flatscreens in Truax.
OSU Gameday Experience (What to Eat):
http://beaverbyte.com
dunerat says:
Jul 14, 2012
I saw the publications and it is sad how far this program has fallen. Now with 2 more teams in the league OSU has that much further to climb. What in the Hell have these Coaches been doing the last 4 Years. Riley use to be a good and well respected Coach. Did he just surround himself with a Bunch of Knuckle Heads? Or did his loyalties get to him.
73GradMike says:
Jul 15, 2012
Yes, his loyalty to his coaching staff has painted MR into a corner. Then you will notice that Beav football is WAY too predictable. As a result, wins will come only when the level of athletes we recruit completely overachieve at game time. Of course a little luck wouldn’t hurt. Prepare for the worst; hope for the best.
bone says:
Jul 14, 2012
6 regular season games, 1 bowl victory. 7 wins.
Ben says:
Jul 14, 2012
Cellar dwellers this year…bank(er) on it
Shaun says:
Jul 15, 2012
Pre-season mags over represent the previous year results…each year is different, highly unlikely OSU has as many injuries as last year. See Phil Steele analysis for a thoughtful breakdown; Beavs 4th in north ahead of WSU and UW…I think we can jump ahead of Cal as well. Sun Bowl or Holiday Bowl IF they can avoid the injury bug. Otherwise a 3-4 win season is likely. They must win one of the first two PAC 12 road games (UCLA or Arizona) to trend towards a bowl.
beaverboy says:
Jul 15, 2012
I think Steele got it right. 4th in the pac12. We were picked I think 8th in 2000. the biggest thing will be luck . if we can stay as healthy as we did in 2000 we will be good. if we have the bad luck we had last 2 years with the injury bug . we are going to be screwed
floridabeav says:
Jul 16, 2012
Like most football fans, I like to make preseason w-l record predictions. However, with the Beavers, I have learned it is best to wait until fall practice concludes. The team has a history of two factors that greatly affect my thinking: new players expecting to qualify and don’t; injuries that occur during the fall practice sessions. The team is generally too thin to overcome either of these events if the players are expected starters. The drop off from starter to second string is just too great (unless the starter is also subpar).
Cj says:
Jul 16, 2012
Don’t forget we cannot defend a spread/option offense. Our team is so out of tune with college football today from marketing to coaching to playing. No more money excuses with the tv deal goin into place. Maybe the most serious question of them all is if bob d. is fit to run this athletic dept with his failing health? Mike Riley has won some big games don’t get me wrong….but has he ever won one when it really mattered??? The guy is living in the past, look no further than his assistant coaches that run the same thing year in year out and never change anything schematically. We need some youth, energy, and fire in our football program from top to bottom…until this happens never count on being more than mediocre:(
kersting13 says:
Jul 16, 2012
QB = #7?
Really? With ASU, UA, Stanford, Colorado, and uo ALL with new starting QBs?
I mean, I don’t expect Mannion to be better than Barkley or Price, but the kid DID throw for 3300 yards without any serious threat from the running game. Surely he’s better than whoever UCLA is going to plug in there, and Maynard from Cal? If not for Allen, he’d have been a 50% passer.
dunerat says:
Jul 16, 2012
Maybe the #7 rating figures in the OL. Mannion id the #7 QB throwing the ball while laying on his back, because he isn’t mobile either.
bbb says:
Jul 17, 2012
dunerat,
if it figured in the o-line then why break down position rankings. the thing is out side of corvallis people realize the kids yards and comp % are inflated due to dump off after dump off. he really hasnt shown he can hit the open guy in stride down the field consistantly. plus he is another stiff with cement shoes and running ability factors into a players overall rating. mannion may be better than 7th but he’ll have to prove it on the field this year. he didnt look like he was much better in the spring. he SHOULD make his biggest leap this season but you never know.
rejectmediocrity says:
Jul 16, 2012
Its not the players, it is the coaches. Our offensivce coordinator sucks amd riley wont change. With no offense and am average defense, you tell me where we will finish.
kersting13 says:
Jul 16, 2012
No, it’s called stupidity by the raters. Mannion finished 9th in the conference on Passing efficiency last year, and 5 of the guys ahead of him have left school.
They’re telling us that more than one first year starter is going to be better than Mannion, who did pretty well for himself considering the lack of a running game.
I don’t care how much you hate our coaches mediocrity, the rating of Mannion at #7 is wrong.
BeaverBeliever says:
Jul 19, 2012
I dig the beavs aren’t expected to do anything. We have returners, some who shined, others who struggled, regardless, we have some experience. In my honest opinion, the beavs are right where they need to be in order to have a good year… a place with no expectations. We will leave it to the players to rise up and fight the hard knock. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t, but my money is on the pleasant surprise.
beaverteeth says:
Jul 21, 2012
Will Riley survive one more year? That is the question looking forward this season. As an alumni I have seen this team through thick and thin and last year as I predicted once the Rogers brothers were not a factor with the Beavers anymore plus injuries to James the team fell off dramatically and hit a new bottom and of coarse there are a few other factors to the demise. I am really curious if OS will make some bold moves to change the expectations of fans and alumni if the team has another losing season. We as alumni and fans of the Beavers pay a premium for tickets and give donations to the football program but are becoming increasingly discouraged by not moving this program in a positive upward direction. I know looking at the Ducks program has made things even worse with their move into a national power house elite football program where they have top national recruits wanting to play for the Ducks along with recruiting especially instate players where the Beavers in the past were able to dominate. So my feeling is unless Riley produces six or seven wins this year he will have to go…. football is to big of a draw for students to a University along with the obvious career choices they make. I do not think Riley will succeed in doing so.