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Free Picks: Portland State vs. Oregon State Betting Odds & Preview

Week 1: Vikings vs Beavers Spread

College Football Week 1 betting action sees the Portland State Vikings taking on the Oregon State Beavers on Saturday, August 30 at Reser Stadium. Cappers Picks provides free NCAA handicapping tips all season long.

For the OSU Beavers, you would think that a season-opener against an FCS opponent would be an easy win—right? Not so fast considering the Beavers’ track record against early-season inferior opponents.

College Football Point Spreads

When: Saturday, Aug. 30 2014 4:00 p.m. ET
Where: Reser Stadium
TV: Pac-12 Network
NCAA Football Spread: Northwestern -11
NCAA Football O/U: 61

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Portland State

The Portland State Vikings went 6-6 during the 2013 college football season, and they’re looking to start with some momentum against an FBS opponent in the Oregon State Beavers. Priority No. 1 for PSU in this contest?

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Defend the pass.

Last season, Sean Mannion (OSU) led the Beavers to become the No. 3 team in the country in terms of passing yards per contest.
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Star receiver Brandin Cooks is gone, which gives Portland State a reason for confidence, but simply put: Mannion is the leader of Oregon State, and he’s going to get the ball where he wants it to be.

Offensively, the Vikings are lucky to be going up against the 91st-ranked defense from the 2013 college football season. The Beavers allowed 31.4 points per game last year, but the problem is that Portland State doesn’t traditionally play the toughest competition.

It did manage to score nearly 35 points per contest in 2013, but it did it while facing just one team from the Pac-12: the California Golden Bears in a 37-30 loss.

OSU

The Beavers have not had good luck against inferior opponents early in the past few seasons. Take last year for example. They lost a shootout 49-46 against FCS Eastern Washington, and if it hadn’t been for that stumble in Week 1, the team would have started the year 7-0.

This year, it’s all about the Beavers’ mentality. Although talent in the wide receiving core is down because of the loss of Cooks, this team should ideally walk away with a solid win against the Vikings.

Sean Mannion is a pro-caliber quarterback with the freedom to throw like there’s no tomorrow, and he’s going to challenge the Vikings secondary the entire way.

Specifically, this game will come down to defense. Can the Vikings stop Mannion through the air? More specifically, can the Beavers prevent another FCS team from walking into their territory the first week of the season and putting up an incredible amount of points?

CFB football handicapping trends

  • Vikings are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
  • Vikings are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
  • Vikings are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
  • Oregon State Beavers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
  • Beavers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 home games.
  • Under is 5-2 in Beavers last 7 games overall.

Week 1 College Football Betting Prediction

With the line not yet set on Monday, Aug. 25, it’s tough to say whether Portland State will cover. Oregon State will clearly be the favorites, but the question is: By how much?

If Oregon State is favored by much more than 20 points, Portland State is a safe bet against the line.

That said, this should be a solid win for the Beavers, even considering the struggles of years past.

Final Week 1 Score: Oregon State 43 – Portland State 24

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