Pull the jerseys out, call up your friends and family and let the predictions begin. College football has begun! Whether you are a devoted follower or the bystander who gets pulled in by the hardcore fan, you simply cannot avoid the fact that football is about to take over your life!
Last Saturday, Oregon State University (OSU) opened the season by facing Colorado State. While coach Gary Andersen had a specific strategy, starting quarterback Jake Lutton, the former Idahoan at 6’7”, 234 pounds, did not have much of an effect on the result. The Beavers fell short to Colorado State at a sad, but perhaps not unexpected, 27-58 much to the dismay of their fans.
Andersen had instructed his defensive linemen to be more physical during their fall camp, but we can tell by the score that most of the physical defense came from Colorado State. This again shows how the Beavers are a work in progress when it comes to not giving up so many yards per game as they did last season.
OSU’s second game of this season is against the Portland State Vikings at Reser Stadium this coming Saturday, September 2 at 11:00 AM. The outlook for OSU? Well some would say that is much more promising since their opponent comes into the game with an even more demoralizing loss of 6-20 to BYU.
So yes, you could say that OSU should have an easier time taking control of the game; however, one must not forget that while the Vikings aren’t necessarily known for being “THE” team to beat, they are coming with more experience than the Beavers. With 14 returning starters, the Vikings may not be at home on Saturday afternoon, but they will be playing with a close-knit lineup that will make sure they are playing as if they were home.
The Beavers will have to make sure the home advantage is felt from the moment the game begins. The experience of the Vikings starters is something to be aware of, but if the Beavers manage to keep running the ball, this could easily be a nice home win.
The last meeting against these two teams was in 2014, where the Beavers took the win but not without having to manage a way to break through the Vikings defense. Both teams have a chance at this game for sure. The unexpected can happen and the team with the best strategy will take the win. Either way you look at it, we have two home teams playing what should be a very exciting game to watch.
Yes, football season has arrived! So, whether you are a Beavers or a Vikings fan, I sure hope we can spot you with your colors on this weekend and why not around the office all day long Friday as you wait for Saturday to arrive!
