California @ No. 23 Oregon State: Advantage/Disadvantage For Week 12

As the bowl landscape begins to take shape, the Pac-10 enters week 12 with only two ranked teams, again. 

The Mountain West Conference has more teams ranked than the Pac-10 with Utah, BYU, and TCU ranked No. 7, 17, and 18 respectively.

USC bumped up to No. 6 in the BCS Polls while Oregon State emerged as the new No. 23 ranked team in the AP Poll (25th in Coaches, not ranked in BCS). The last time the Beavers were ranked was after their Emerald Bowl win over Maryland; they earned a No. 25 spot in the AP Poll at season's end.

Not to say the Pac-10 hasn't had its share of ranked teams; Cal and Oregon have poked their heads into the realm of the ranked in weeks prior and are now in position to re-enter if they win and/or someone ahead of them falters.

If you've followed the Pac-10 or are like many of us, watching every down possible of every bowl game, then you'll know the Beavers finish strong and are in great position to repeat a late season surge.

While talk of Rose Bowls and holiday destinations circle in grown Beaver fans' heads like sugar plums on Christmas eve, the team knows the old cliche still rings true, "One game at a time".

Last week California dropped from their No. 21 spot after a hard fought 17-3 game against a USC defense determined to never allow a touchdown again.

As the Beavers play host to the Bears in front of a 45,000+ sold-out Reser Stadium-Dad's Weekend crowd, the teams are virtually even in major statistical categories.

Rushing:

California - The Bears have developed a great two-headed monster with sophomore Jahvid Best and freshman Shane Vereen. The youthful tandem has gained 1,324 yards on 227 carries for a very productive 5.8 ypc.

Both have added a combined 349 receiving yards as well.

Best dislocated his elbow in their September 27th match up with non-conference Colorado State. Vereen stepped in and opened some eyes, earning more playing time as a result.

Cal depends on athleticism and quickness, and Best and Vereen fit the bill.  This isn't to say they won't come straight at you. Senior Alex Mack is one of the best in the nation at the center position.

Grade:  A

Reason: Athleticism and Quickness

Oregon State - Entering the season the Beavs were counting on true freshman Jacquizz Rodgers to challenge redshirt freshman Ryan McCants for a starting spot, but little did they know Rodgers would earn three Pac-10 Offensive Player of the week honors, set the Pac-10 record for rushing yards as a freshman, and be hoisted up as a Doak Walker Award Semifinalist...with three games remaining no less.

Rodgers has rushed for 1,089 yards on 228 caries and has ten TD's. McCants has found his stride as of late and has spelled Rodgers on occasion. The big 6'1" 235 pound back has gained 222 yards of his own, added two TD's, and is getting better with every carry.

Add in James Rodgers and the fly sweep and the Beavers have rushed for a combined 1,526 yards and 15 TD's. Clearly OSU's bread-n-butter, and their key for success.

Grade: A

Reason: Agility, pass catching, pass blocking.

Rushing Advantage:  PUSH

Receiving:

California - While no one jumps out statistically, the Bears do posses a productive passing attack.  The question is always, who is the guy delivering the ball? Cal has five receivers over 200 yards and nine over 100.  Production is production, whether it's from one guy or an entire crew.

If anything, it's much harder to defend four than it is to focus on one.

Whether it be Longshore or Riley throwing the pass, you can bet Cameron Morrah and Nyan Boteg will be the two favorites to catch it. Morrah-the athletic pass catching TE- and Boteg-the "go-to" wide out- have not had a 100 yard game between them, however both have a knack of finding the end zone: Morrah has six receiving TD's and Boteg four.

Grade:  B

Reason: Nobody stands out, production IS there, but only two plays over 50 yards this season.

Oregon State - Quite possibly the best receiving crew in the conference, Stroughter, Morales, and Rodgers have lit up opponents thanks to the effectiveness of the run game and consistent QB play. 

Stroughter returned after an injury-riddled 2007 season and is second in the Pac-10 for receiving yards per game at 73.2 (73.8 M. Thomas-Ariz) and second in receptions per game at 5.6, again behind Thomas who has 5.8.

Surprise of the year award goes to senior Shane Morales, who unfortunately injured his hip last week and it is unknown whether or not he will start Saturday.  The senior reminds OSU fans of once-Beaver great Mike Hass with his ability to catch anything thrown his way.

The 2,301 total yards through the air breaks down as the Pac-10's best in yards per game at 255.7.

Grade:  A  (would be A+ if Morales was starting)

Reason: Ability to lean on one guy, all can create big plays, Rodgers adds the rushing dimension to the position.

Receiving Advantage: Oregon State

Quarterback:

California - The Bears have finally ended the juggling act with its quarterback situation.  Kevin Riley was named the definitive starter for the OSU game.  Those of you who follow the Beavers remember Riley's bone-headed scramble deep in OSU territory late in the fourth quarter.  He was sacked and time ran out as OSU beat the then-No. 2 Cal Bears in Berkeley.

Riley and Longshore are comparable when it comes to arm strength and decision making, however it's mobility that sets Riley apart. 

With shared time the numbers aren't going to be high enough to compare with the league leaders, but when looking at efficiency and TD to INT ratio Riley seems the best fit.  His ten TD's to only four INT's bests Longshore's eight to four.

Total yards equal 1,970 between the two but have been sacked a combined 17 times compared to only 9 for OSU QB's.

Grade: C+

Reason: Neither has played up to their potential, with Riley only completing 51 percent of his passes

Oregon State - Lyle Moevao has taken a seat after injuring his throwing shoulder against Arizona State two weeks ago.  Moevao has been throwing in practice and is around 80 percent health-wise.

Right now Sean Canfield looks to get the start for his second week in a row.  The prototypical 6'5" 225 pound lefty has improved dramatically from where he was last year, especially considering that he has been recovering from shoulder surgery.

In his six and a half quarters of play, Canfield has completed 69 percent of his passes for 479 yards and five TDs with just two INTs.  While his knack of holding onto the ball a little long sends Beaver fans' eyelids upward and jaws to the floor, the junior QB has been more than productive, and more importantly avoids the bad decisions that plagued his performance last year.

Grade: B+

Reason: Moevao isn't playing otherwise it'd be an A, Canfield can now manage the game and hit his check down routes.

Quarterback Advantage: Oregon State

Defensive:

California - The Bears have implemented a new 3-4 defensive scheme.  The four linebackers are athletic, fast, and very aggressive.

Cal leads the league in interceptions at 17, three of them returned for touchdowns. On the season, Cal is allowing 20.6 points per game and scoring 32.7.

The Golden Tedfords have gotten to the QB 25 times this season for negative 179 yards.

Third downs have been good to California, the defense is allowing only a 29.6 percent conversion rate.

The new scheme will be foreign to the Beavers in their preparation and the skill at linebacker could be tough to attack offensively. The Bears have, however, given up 35 and 42 points in losses on the road against Maryland and Arizona.

Grade: B+

Reason: Athleticism at LB, quarterback pressure, new scheme is working well

Oregon State - The Beavers began the season giving up 449 yards on the ground and  81 points in their first two games, since then they've been much improved.

The replacement of the front seven is an afterthought now.  The Beavs have 23 sacks for 172 yards lost.

Oregon State is one spot above Cal in the third down department at number two in the conference, yielding first downs in only 29.4 percent of the time.

OSU sits in the middle of the Pac with 11 interceptions, one resulting in a TD.

The emergence of DT Steven Paea and the continued production from ends Norris and Butler have OSU playing very well. The inability for the safeties to cover over the top and inability of cornerbacks to find the ball often result in big plays down field.

The Beavs have given up only two offensive touchdowns in their last four games.

Grade: B

Reason: Too many long pass plays, great pressure from front seven, team effort always.

Defensive Advantage:  California

Special Teams:

California - Between David Seawright and Giorgio Tavecchio, the Bears have converted on 11 of their 15 field goal attempts. Tavecchio (6 for 8) has the big leg and has hit three of five from 40 yards and beyond.

California's 22.7 yards per kick off return ranks third in the conference.  Cal is allowing just under 18 yards per kick off return.

Punting for the Bears nets 35.8 yards per attempt and only 3.8 yards per return.

Grade:  B+

Reason:   NO TOUCHBACKS on kick-offs, 11.4 yards per punt return and three TD's

Oregon State - To say OSU started slowly in the kicking game is an understatement.  The Beavers flat out stunk, and rightfully so, place kicker Justin Kahut and punter Johnny Hekker are both true freshman and struggled to execute.

The missed extra point at Utah-you could say-cost the Beavers the game. They were fishing for points the rest of the game, going for two and not converting.

The Beavs are 11 for 17 in field goals, but from beyond 40 they are two for eight.

Hekker had his best day at UCLA, averaging 48 yards per punt and NO returns.  He is averaging 37 yards per punt, but only 31 net.

The return game hasn't been what most thought it would be.  Stroughter averages only 9 yards per return and kick off return average is just under 22 yards per.

Grade: C (up from D)

Reason:  Iffy kick and punt coverage, improvement in punting and kicking consistency

Special Teams Advantage:  California

Intangibles:

OSU holds the home field advantage.  The Beavers have won 12 of their last 13 at Reser Stadium.  The game is sold out.

California is coming off of an emotionally draining loss to USC while OSU dominated the second half and did not give up a touchdown to the Bruins on the road.

Naming Kevin Riley starter could unite players since there is no more questioning who will be under center.

Both teams are among the conference's best. OSU is staring down a possible Rose Bowl if they win out and Cal could end up in the Holiday Bowl if they win out and get a couple losses from conference foes in the last few weeks.

The Beavers have a new-found confidence in two different quarterbacks and two different running backs.

Advantage:  Oregon State

In what quite easily could be named the Pac-10 game of the week, California will need to take care of the ball and protect Kevin Riley.  When given time-OSU has seen first hand-Riley can move the team down the field and pick apart the secondary.

OSU needs to stick with what got them to this point, run Jacquizz and McCants 30+ times and find the seams in the passing game. Limit turnovers, ride the crowd, and OSU should emerge victorious and one step closer to fulfilling their Rose Bowl dreams.

Prediction: OSU 30    Cal 24