First look: Oregon State at Washington State

Sept. 11, 2017 Updated Mon., Sept. 11, 2017 at 11:17 a.m.

By Theo Lawson theol@spokesman.com (509) 459-5584

Three things to know

1. Oregon State’s starting quarterback will be making his first trip to the Palouse as a visiting player, but junior college transfer Jake Luton called the area home for two years while he was playing at the University of Idaho. Luton redshirted in 2014, then backed up Vandal starter Matt Linehan in 2015 before pursuing the JC route, which led him to California’s Ventura College.

2. Strange, but true: both of the offensive players that’ll wear No. 9 in this game are wide receivers from Belle Glade, Florida. For the Cougars, it’s redshirt sophomore Isaiah Johnson-Mack. For the Beavers, it’s freshman Tino Allen. Johnson-Mack attended Dwyer High and Allen attended Glades Central, so it’s possible the two were high school foes at some point before both moving to the Pacific Northwest.

3. There’s a Belle Glade, Florida, connection in this game, but also a Logan, Utah, one. WSU quarterback is a Logan native and OSU coach Gary Andersen spent three years coaching there while he was at Utah State. Andersen’s twin sons, Chasen and Hagen, friended Falk and also played with the Cougar gunslinger under former Logan coach Mike Favero.

What is it? Oregon State (1-2, 0-0) comes to Pullman to play Washington State (2-0, 0-0) in the first Pac-12 game for either team this season.

Where is it? Martin Stadium in Pullman.

When is it? Early, relatively speaking. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. PDT on Saturday.

Where can I watch it? Pac-12 Networks.

Who is favored? WSU opens as a 16-point favorite.

Why WSU will win: The Beavers have conceded 106 points in their two losses this season and their only win, a 38-35 triumph over FCS Portland State, probably felt more like a defeat. Of the 129 teams in the FBS, OSU ranks No. 126 having conceded 46 points per game. To add insult to injury, the Beavers haven’t won a game away from home under third-year coach Gary Andersen and ride a 14-game road losing streak into Pullman.

Why OSU will win: Ryan Nall hasn’t been as effective this season, but the tough-as-nails OSU running back did hurt the Cougars for 131 yards, on 19 carries, and two touchdowns in the game last year. He’ll probably need more than that to give the Beavers a shot in this game, but few backs in the conference have given the Cougars as much trouble as the 6-2, 237-pound bulldozer.

What happened last time? The Beavers opened a 24-6 halftime lead at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, but Washington State fixed some mechanical issues in the locker room and the Air Raid took flight in the second half as Luke Falk passed for 415 yards and five touchdowns, leading the Cougars to a 35-31 comeback win. WSU outscored OSU 22-0 in the third quarter of what would be the sixth of eight straight Cougar wins.

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