[sportsfan2006]

By Jeff Zell
Inspin.com/WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Who: No. 24 Oregon State (9-4) vs. Missouri (8-4)
Where: El Paso, Texas
When: Friday, 2 p.m. (CBS)
WagerWeb.com line: OSU -3 (53)

Matchup: Itʼs two teams that started and finished opposite ways. Missouri started strong and got out to its first 6-0 start in 33 years but faltered down the stretch, losing four of its final six. Oregon State started 2-3 before winning seven of its last eight.

Why Oregon State Wins: The Beavers are red hot and can beat teams a number of different ways. Yvenson Bernard can beat opponents on the ground -- he ranks as the No. 15 running back in the nation, averaging 100.15 yards per game. Senior Matt Moore has come into his own as an efficient quarterback. Moore has thrown eight touchdowns and zero interceptions in the last six games. Oregon State averages 3.38 sacks per game and will be able to put pressure on Missouriʼs pass game. Linebacker Derrick Doggett is a second-team All-Pac-10 performer and has the ability to make plays.

Why Missouri Wins: QB Chase Daniel engineers the No. 11-ranked passing offense in the country. He has two big targets playing at tight end in Chase Coffman and Martin Rucker who opposing teams have a hard time covering. On the defensive side of the ball, first-team All-Big 12 linebacker Marcus Bacon will have to play a monster game to stop Bernard. The Tigers average 2.75 sacks per game as a team and will need a big performance from the defensive line to get Oregon State out of its balanced attack.

Prediction: Oregon State 28-17

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