Countdown to Kickoff Day 33: #18 Oregon State Beavers

Oregon State has had three ten win seasons in the last 23 years, and coach Jonathan Smith has played a key role in two of those three seasons. In 2000 he was the QB for the Beavers, and in 2022 he was the head coach. Oregon State finished fourth in conference and lost to each team that was ahead of them in the Pac-12 (USC, Washington, and Oregon) but still managed to get to the double digit mark in the win column and earn a spot in a high end bowl game against the Florida Gators. They made a statement in that game for themselves and for their conference, beating the Gators 30-3 and fishing the year on a high note.

OSU’s defense went from worst in 2021 to first in 2022 and are expected to party like it's 2022 in 2023., The offense is a thing of beauty with a solid tailback in Damien Martinez who averages over six yards a carry, an offensive line who creates holes bigger than the Kola Borehole (look it up), and two outstanding quarterbacks to choose from in DJ Uiagalelei and Ben Gulbranson. Gulbranson took over last year three games into the season and led the Beavers to a 7-1 finish, and Uiagalelei is a transfer who underperformed at Clemson, but has all the potential in the world and a change of scenery may be all this young man needs.

I'll put it this way, there are definitely worse positions to be in than what Jonathan Smith has going on in Corvallis.

They will lose some pieces on defense that will hurt them for sure, but they were a deep team lat year and will have experienced players step up, and will welcome in some transfers that will help the cause as well.

Prediction: I would put my life savings on this team starting 3-0. as their non-conference schedule makes a cake walk look difficult. The Pac-12 is solid and it will be difficult for the Beavs to make it to the championship game, but consider them a sleeper you do not want to wake up. 9-3.

How Many Games Will Oregon State Win In 2020

• 9 or more
• 8 or less