Scouting Report: Oregon At WSU

2 p.m., Martin Stadium

Offense

Washington State: The Cougars are coming off their worst offensive performance of the year and facing Oregon, which has the third-best defense in the Pac-10 Conference (327 yards allowed per game). What’s worse is that WSU has lost its ground game. Sophomore running back Deon Burnett is back to the tentative style that made the recruitment of David Minnich a necessity. But Minnich has had trouble holding onto the football, even in practice. Quarterback Jason Gesser is more banged up than he lets on. Wide receivers Milton Wynn and Marcus Williams need to make better adjustments on their routes and on the ball for the Cougars to have a chance.

Oregon: Oregon has hung 50-plus points on the Cougars the last two years, and the Ducks have the weapons to do it again. Quarterback Joey Harrington throws for 237 yards per game. Running back Maurice Morris averages 114 yards per game. And wide receivers Keenan Howry and Marshaun Tucker average 71 and 65 yards per game, respectively.

Advantage: Oregon

Defense

Washington State: The Cougars’ defense has shown dramatic improvement over the past two weeks. Freshman Rien Long and sophomore Tomasi Kongaika will again start at the defensive tackle spots. Senior DE Austin Matson will play but won’t start. Tupo Tuupo has done well in his place. The Cougars’ backup free safety, Erik Coleman, was cleared to play and should help out the secondary.

Oregon: The Ducks’ defense is banged up mentally and physically. Last week, that unit gave up 667 yards and 55 points. The pass defense is rated the best in the Pac-10. But there were some obvious problems with the secondary last week and that is where the Cougars will go after them.

Advantage: Oregon

Special teams

Washington State: The Cougars spent the week trying to find anyone who could kick a field goal. By the end of the week, they were back where they started with Anousith Wilaikul as the kicker.

Oregon: The Ducks’ kicking game is in worse shape than the Cougars. Josh Frankel is 9 of 19 on field goals. The only reason this hasn’t it cost them a game is because the offense produces so many touchdowns.

Advantage: Washington State

Coaching

Oregon: Week in and week out, Bellotti proves himself to be the top coach in the Pac-10. No team in the conference has a better-prepared game plan than the Ducks. The key is that they are not only prepared, they execute. Bellotti has won more games than any other coach in the Pac-10 in the last five years. His record at Oregon in November is an amazing 13-2.

Washington State: After having his team within three plays of a 6-1 record, WSU coach Mike Price fell flat last weekend. Nothing the coach put in worked, mainly because his players were intimidated by Oregon State.

Advantage: Oregon

Predicted score: Oregon 42, Washington State 28