Oregon State vs Fresno State: win streak and Pac-12 lead on the line
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Oregon State (5-2) visits Fresno State (4-3) on October 31 at 8 PM Pacific time, with the Beavers' five-game win streak and perfect Pac-12 record at stake.
- The Beavers own the nation's top passing attack, led by quarterback Braden Atkinson and freshman star receiver Jesse Legree.
- The game airs on the USA Network, with streaming on Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Stream.
Oregon State visits Fresno State on Saturday night in a Week 9 college football game. The Beavers bring a five-game win streak and the best passing attack in the country. Kickoff is at 8 PM Pacific time on the USA Network.
Fans are searching because this late-night Pac-12 game has real stakes. Oregon State sits at 5-2 overall and 3-0 in conference play. A win keeps the Beavers at the top of the Pac-12.
What to know about Oregon State
The Beavers have been one of the biggest surprises in college football this season. First-year head coach JaMarcus Shephard has built the nation's top passing attack. Oregon State also ranks third in total offense, according to College Sports Wire.
Quarterback Braden Atkinson leads the country in passing yards (2,604) and touchdowns (24), per 247Sports. He transferred to Oregon State from Mercer. His favorite target is true freshman Jesse Legree.
Legree leads the nation in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and receiving yards per game. Both made the Maxwell Award watchlist.
The award honors the best player in college football. On October 23, Legree publicly committed to stay at Oregon State. The move drew national attention.
Oregon State scores 42.7 points per game, the fourth-best mark in the country. The Beavers' only two losses came by a combined 24 points. Both losses were to ranked Big 12 teams, Houston and Texas Tech.
The Beavers also received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. They are coming off a bye week, so they are rested. For a look at how the wider season has unfolded, see our undefeated teams tracker.
What to know about Fresno State
Fresno State is 4-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The Bulldogs have lost two games in a row. Their Pac-12 opener was a win over Washington State.
The Bulldogs' losses came against Southern California, Boise State, and San Diego State. Head coach Matt Entz leads the team. Quarterback Jayden Mandel runs the offense.
Fresno State plays at home in Valley Children's Stadium. The stadium holds 40,727 fans. The Bulldogs own a 9-6 all-time record against Oregon State, according to 247Sports.
This is the first meeting between the schools with both as Pac-12 members. Fresno State's defense has held three opponents to 10 points or fewer this season. The unit also ranks among the top 30 in interceptions.
But the defense has also given up big numbers in losses. It allowed 39 points to Southern California and 31 to Boise State.
Oregon State beat San Diego State 66-14 in early October. That same San Diego State team beat Fresno State.
Players to watch
All eyes will be on Braden Atkinson and Jesse Legree for Oregon State. Atkinson throws the deep ball with rare touch for a college quarterback. Legree runs crisp routes and rarely drops a pass.
For Fresno State, linebacker K'vion Thunderbird stands out. Coach Shephard praised him this week, saying he flies around the field and hits hard. Defensive back Kiontre Harris and lineman Dylan Hampsten are also worth watching, per Shephard.
How to watch
Kickoff is 8 PM Pacific time on Saturday, October 31. That is 11 PM Eastern. The venue is Valley Children's Stadium in Fresno, California.
The game airs on the USA Network. Streaming options include Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Stream. All four services carry the USA Network, according to the Statesman Journal.
Covers reports rain is expected in Fresno on game day. Expect cloudy skies and spotty showers.
The temperature should sit near 64 degrees. Wet weather could slow down the passing game.
Oregon's other big program also made headlines recently when the Ducks rallied past Nebraska.
What the odds say
Oregon State is a 5.5-point favorite, according to FanDuel odds shared by College Sports Wire. Oddsmakers list Oregon State as the favorite and Fresno State as the underdog. The total points line is 57.5.
College Sports Wire predicts a 37-21 Oregon State win. Covers also backs the Beavers at minus 6 and a half points.
The pick shows faith in the Beavers' offense. Fresno State's defense has struggled against strong teams.
This article is for information only and is not betting advice.
What happens next
A win would give Oregon State six straight victories. It would keep the perfect Pac-12 record intact.
It would also strengthen the Beavers' case for a spot in the national rankings. A loss would open the door for other Pac-12 teams.
For Fresno State, a win would end the two-game slide. It would shake up the conference race.
A loss would drop the Bulldogs to 1-3 in league play. Either way, the late-night window gives both teams a national stage.
At 8 PM Pacific, two teams with very different seasons meet under the lights. Oregon State wants to prove its fast start is real. Fresno State wants to prove it can stop the country's best passing attack.
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