BYU vs. Oregon State: TV Schedule, Live Streaming, Radio, Game Time and More

After tough starts, the BYU Cougars and Oregon State Beavers seem to be figuring things out as we get deeper and deeper into the 2011 season.

The Cougars started the season as a trendy sleeper, but they all but fell off the radar after losing two straight games to Texas and Utah. They have since won three straight, and are on pace to play in a bowl game for a seventh straight season.

The Beavers were absolutely wretched at the start of the season, but they won their first game against Arizona this past weekend. They might just be ready to surprise people.

On Saturday, these two teams are going to hook up for an afternoon of football in Corvallis. Let's take a look at what we can expect to see.

Where: Reser Stadium

When: Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox College Sports/KBYU

Listen: Live streaming audio on KSL.com and OSUBeavers.com; KSL 1160 AM, KSL 102.7 FM and Sirius 143 for BYU; Beaver Sports Network and Sirius 139 for Oregon State.

Betting Line: Oregon State -1.5, according to Sportsbook.

Key Storyline

The Beavers are coming off their first win of the season, and they can delight in the fact that they pretty much cost Mike Stoops his job. They won't cost Bronco Mendenhall his job if they win, but they can spoil what will be a homecoming of sorts. Mendenhall coached at Oregon State in the 1990s.

Who Might Not Play for BYU

The USA Today notes that defensive end Graham Rowley is dealing with an ankle injury and offensive lineman Houston Reynolds is dealing with a foot injury. Both are questionable for Saturday.

Who Might Not Play for Oregon State

The Beavers are a little more strapped for players than the Cougars are. Defensive tackle Dominic Glover (academics), running back Malcolm Agnew (hamstring), guard Josh Andrews (knee), wide receiver Micah Hatfield (hand) and running back Jovan Stevenson (head) are all questionable for Saturday.

BCS/Top 25 Poll Implications

There are neither. Both BYU and Oregon State are a long ways away from the AP Top 25, and both of them are well out of the BCS picture. Both teams are merely trying to become bowl eligible.

What They're Saying

BYU has been pulled out some wins in close games this season, and Jay Drew of The Salt Lake Tribune points out that this is nothing out of the ordinary for Mendenhall's Cougars:

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"In his seventh year, Mendenhall is 18-7 in games decided by seven points or fewer. However, in the past five seasons (2007-2011) he is 16-2 in one-touchdown games, with 17-16 losses to Utah last season and Texas last month the only blemishes."

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When asked about it, Mendenhall chalked this trend up to the "maturity" of his players. Kind of a stock answer, but it's hard to argue the point.

Meanwhile in Corvallis, Paul Buker of The Oregonian penned a good piece about the difficulties the Beavers are having with their running game in the post-Jacquizz Rodgers era:

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"The numbers had not been encouraging for the OSU ground game. After rolling up 266 yards rushing against Sacramento State, the Beavers had just 24 against Wisconsin, 88 against UCLA, and 47 against Arizona State."

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On the bright side, the Beavers did have 128 yards rushing against Arizona. Sophomore running back Jovan Stevenson picked up 99 of those.

BYU Player to Watch

Keep an eye on junior quarterback Riley Nelson. He's looked pretty good since coming on in relief of the embattled Jake Heaps, and the odds are good that he will be under center again for the Cougars against Oregon State. Nelson has racked up 490 total yards in the last two weeks.

Oregon State Player to Watch

I think it has to be Jovan Stevenson. Buker reported on Tuesday that Stevenson isn't likely to practice until Wednesday, but it sounds like he's going to be okay to go on Saturday. If he is, he'll be looking to build on his recent success against a stout BYU front seven.

Key Matchup

Speaking of that front seven, it must corral Stevenson and any other running back the Beavers throw at it. That will make things much tougher for freshman quarterback Sean Mannion, and that's not a good thing for Oregon State seeing as how Mannion has had some turnover issues this season.

On the Hot Seat

Mike Riley cooled his seat by leading the Beavers to their first win this past Saturday, but a few more wins can only help his job security. If things turn around and start going south again, he's going to be in trouble.

Prediction

Both teams have turned things around after slow starts, but I think the Cougars are the better team. It won't be pretty, but I see them taking this one.

BYU 21, Oregon State 20