First Look

Time: 1 p.m. Saturday. No TV.

The records: WSU, 3-0, 0-0 Pac-10; Oregon State, 2-2, 0-1 Pac-10.

Last week: WSU did not play; Oregon State lost to Arizona State 42-24.

Last time: Oregon State beat WSU 38-19 in Corvallis, Ore., on Oct. 23, 2004.

What it means for WSU: This Pac-10 opener is a pivotal game for the Cougars, perhaps the biggest of the season. With no strong opponents in their rear-view mirror, the Cougars will have to play at least as well if not better than they have thus far to beat a conference opponent on the road. But a win would put WSU in golden position to be 5-0, maybe even 6-0, heading into the toughest stretch of the season. The Cougars appear to be healthy going in, with linebacker Scott Davis (foot) expected back today and cornerback Wally Dada escaping potential danger Saturday when a knee injury turned out to be minor. A win Saturday might also propel WSU close to Top 25 territory, which would be a nice feather in the cap coming off of a 5-6 season.

What it means for Oregon State: This isn’t Oregon State’s conference opener, but it’s every bit as important. The Beavers have a bye after this game so they can pour everything they have into Saturday’s date with WSU, and they’ll have to coming off two blowout losses. In the last two weeks, Oregon State has allowed 105 points to Louisville and Arizona State and this is an opportunity for its defense to prove its mettle before the 2005 season starts to slip away. After the bye, the Beavers have to travel to California and UCLA, so a loss here could mean a 2-5 start, one that would almost certainly doom their bowl chances.

Oregon State’s best: Head coach Mike Riley is in his second tour of duty in Corvallis and has posted a 17-12 record since returning at the start of the 2003 season.

Mike Hass was a third-team All-American in 2004 and might just do better than that this year. In four games the senior wideout has 40 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns, and he’s a big reason why new starting quarterback Matt Moore is on pace to throw for more than 3,500 yards this season. Tight end Joe Newton, one of the best in the country, tore a calf muscle in the preseason and is out for the year.

Middle linebacker Trent Bray, a Pullman High School graduate, anchors the Beavers defense, but graduation and off-field woes have hurt Oregon State on this side of the ball. The secondary has been a big concern, giving up pass plays of 49, 45, 41, 37 and 28 yards last week. Safety Sabby Piscitelli has been forced to help out in pass coverage because of weak cornerback play. The junior intercepted five passes last season, but only has one in 2005.

Glenn Kasses, Staff writer