PREDICTION: Penn State 28, Oregon State 21
LINE: Penn State by 15
GAME TIME: 3:30, today
WHERE: Beaver Stadium, University Park
TV/RADIO: ABC/ESPN 2, Penn State radio network
SERIES RECORD: First meeting
THE SETUP: It's another week and another first-time opponent for Penn State. The difference is, Oregon State, unlike opening foil Coastal Carolina, is a I-A school from a BCS conference and is expected to provide a better gauge of this Penn State team's abilities.
THE MATCHUP: The way Joe Paterno and his players raved about Oregon State this week made the Beavers sound like national-championship contenders, rather than the 0-1 team that comes in after having lost to Stanford in its opener. On the flip side, Paterno and his Nittany Lions' players have been eager to remind any and all that their thumping of Coastal Carolina was something short of a stiff test. Weather may or may not play a role today, depending on the track of tropical storms along the East Coast. Oregon State's transcontinental journey could be something of a factor, too. Penn State's latest disciplinary move, which saw backup cornerback Willie Harriott dismissed from the team and starting defensive linemen Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma and backup tight end Andrew Quarless all suspended, looms as a major impediment for the defense and a minor hurdle for the offense. Plots and subplots abound, beyond the quirky nugget of the Beavers playing in a visiting stadium that bears their name.
BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL
PENN STATE
Quarterback Daryll Clark pronounced himself much more relaxed this week for his second career start. He also promised a gameplan that has more of the Spread HD look that was so talked about during the offseason but was kept largely under wraps against Coastal Carolina. Penn State's defense faces the challenge of an Oregon State offense that rang up 490 yards against Stanford but had trouble translating that to enough scores.
BY THE NUMBERS
QB Daryll Clark: 11-14 passing, 146 yards, 1 TD
WR: Jordan Norwood: 4 catches, 74 yards, 1 TD
RB Stephfon Green: 10 carries, 89 yards, 2 TDs
OREGON STATE
With stocky quarterback Lyle Moevao (5-foot-11, 220 pounds) pulling the trigger, the Oregon State offense produced two wide receivers with more than 150 receiving yards each against Stanford. But coach Mike Riley would like to see more than the paltry 86 rushing yards his Beavers put up against Stanford. On the flip side, Oregon State's defense was gouged for 210 rushing yards.
BY THE NUMBERS
QB Lyle Moevao: 34 of 54, 404 yards, 3 TDs
WR Sammie Stroughter: 12 catches, 157 yards, 2 TDs
WR Shane Morales: 13 catches, 151 yards, 1 TD
NEXT GAME
Sept. 13 at Syracuse, 3:30 p.m., Carrier Dome
