GAME PREVIEW: (14) BYU vs (18) Oregon State

LAS VEGAS - Is BYU versus Oregon State the best matchup in Maaco Bowl Las Vegas (formerly the Las Vegas Bowl) history?

This is the first time in the bowl's 17-year existence that two ranked teams face off in Sam Boyd Stadium.

BYU's No. 14 rank is the highest ever for a Maaco Bowl Las Vegas participant. The Cougars were ranked in the top 20 the last three years, but this is the first year that the PAC-10 has sent a ranked team to Las Vegas.

The Oregon State Beavers are currently ranked 18th in the BCS with an 8-4 record. The Beavers were one of five teams in the PAC-10 to finish the year 8-4 and one of three teams to finish 6-3 in conference.

The Beavers feature the top statistical quarterback in the PAC-10 and a dynamic duo in the Rodgers brothers. Sean Canfield averages more than 254 yards a game and threw 19 touchdowns and just six interceptions on the year.

His favorite targets are the brothers-Rodgers; wide receiver James and running back Jacquizz, the second leading rusher in the PAC-10 with 1,313 yards and the second leading receiver in the conference (67 catches, 436 yards) behind his big brother, who caught 77 passes for 865 yards.

The explosive pair combined for an incredible 29 touchdowns.

The Cougars counter with a potent group themselves led by senior quarterback Max Hall, who found himself in hot water after declaring his hatred for the University of Utah and its fans following BYU's exciting 26-23 overtime win against the Utes.

Hall topped the Mountain West Conference with 3,368 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. Running back Harvey Unga led the MWC with 92.4 rushing yards a game (1,016 yards) and Dennis Pitta was the top pass-catching tight-end in the conference, arguably the nation, with 57 catches, 784 yards and seven touchdowns.

These two teams have more in common than the Bronco Mendenhall connection. Mendenhall played and coached at Oregon State before becoming the Head Coach at BYU.

Both teams are tops in their conference in passing offense and both are strong against the run.

Much like BYU, the Beavers score in bunches and win when they put a lot of points on the board. Both teams have high-scoring offenses, which average over 30 points a game (BYU- 34.8, OSU- 32.4) and respectable defenses, which allow just over 20 points a game (BYU- 21.7, OSU- 22.2).

Expect this game to be the epitome of a classic barnburner- lots of plays, lots of points and a lot of fun.

KSL takes a look back and a look ahead as we prep for game day.

What did we learn about BYU versus Utah?

• BYU can win a grind it out-type of game
• BYU has arguably the best tight end tandem in all of college football (Dennis Pitta and Andrew George)
• RB Harvey Unga (23 carries, 116 yards, one touchdown) is a dominant force even against a stout run defense
• The Cougar defense has nearly perfected the bend-don't-break philosophy (allowed only 298 yards on 75 plays- a 3.97 yards/play average- and just five field goals and a touchdown).

What questions do we still have about BYU?

• Has the trip to Las Vegas gotten stale for the Cougars (fifth consecutive trip to Vegas Bowl)?
• What kind of performance will Hall have in his final game as BYU's quarterback?
• Is this Unga's last game as a Cougar (he has spoken openly about leaving for the NFL)?
• Can the Cougar defense keep up with the speed of the Rodgers brothers?

What can BYU expect from Oregon State?

• A similarly structured and explosive offense with a powerful three-headed monster (QB Canfield, RB Rodgers and WR Rodgers)
• A balance between run and pass- but schemes to take advantage of the Beavers' team speed
• A team that doesn't turn the ball over (only eight TO's on the year)
• A defense geared to get to Hall early in order to protect a depleted secondary

What can Oregon State expect from BYU?

• A concerted effort to get out of blocks and on the scoreboard quickly
• A passing attack aimed at exploiting the Beavers' secondary, which has suffered through injuries and ineffectiveness (allowed 20 TD passes and only intercepted eight passes)
• A healthy and motivated Unga and a confident and determine Hall
• A defensive emphasis to contain and neutralize Oregon State's speed

Miscellaneous:

• BYU and Oregon State last played in 1986, when Mendenhall was the Beavers' starting safety. Mendenhall had four tackles in the Beavers' 10-7 win in Provo.
• The Cougars last beat the Beavers in 1978, a 10-6 triumph in Corvallis, Ore. BYU is 3-5 all-time versus Oregon State.
• The Cougars are 2-2 in the previous four Vegas Bowl games and is playing in the same bowl game for the fifth straight season for the first time since making seven consecutive trips to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego from 1978 through 1984.
• BYU has been to 26 bowls in the last 32 years. Only six schools have been to more bowls in that time (Michigan/Nebraska/Florida State-30, Ohio State-29, Tennessee/Georgia-27).
• In four bowl games under Bronco Mendenhall, BYU has scored a combined total of three first quarter points. This year's OSU team has outscored opponents 105-34 in the first quarter.
• Bronco Mendenhall is 3-7 in ten games versus ranked teams.
• The Las Vegas Bowl is one of only four non-BCS bowl games featuring two ranked teams.
• Only one BYU QB won more than one bowl game: Jim McMahon (1980 and 1981). Hall would be the second Cougar signal-caller to record two bowl victories.

Conclusion:

While these two teams have much in common, their success comes from different strengths. This matchup is a battle of speed (Oregon State) versus power (BYU) and the team that best exploits the other's weakness will come out on top. The Beavers want to make up for a heartbreaking loss to Oregon; Hall and his senior teammates want to go out winners. This should be one fun back-and-forth slugfest.

You can catch all the action beginning at 4 p.m. with the BYU pregame show on KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160AM or online at KSL.com. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

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