By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season
I remember during preseason last year hearing an ESPN analyst emphasize two things when evaluating a team's chances for a successful college football season: your schedule and the experience level of your quarterback.
If those are indeed two significant factors, then Oregon State could have some trouble matching its 8-4 regular season from a year ago.
One of the nation's most difficult non-conference schedules has OSU opening September against Top 10s TCU and Boise State in two of its first three games. And Oregon State will be doing so with first-year quarterback Ryan Katz.
The Beavers could be gnawing on a 1-2 record heading into PAC 10 play, and finishing with USC, Stanford and Oregon could make things difficult if Oregon State is on the bowl bubble come late November.
Who's back? RB Jacquizz Rodgers, WR James Rodgers
Who's gone? QB Sean Canfield
Why they'll win: Coach Mike Riley always does more with less.
Why they'll lose: OSU will be introducing a new quarterback against a difficult schedule.
Get your tickets: vs. TCU (at Dallas, Sept. 4), at Boise State (Sept. 25), vs. Oregon (Dec. 4)
Prediction: 8-4 (7-2, third place PAC 10)