Oregon State @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2013 ) Colorado 17, Oregon State 44

Oregon State’s offense is ailing, but Saturday’s game at Colorado might prove to be the perfect tonic. In last week’s 35-10 loss to USC, the Beavers were limited to 181 yards of offense – their lowest single-game total in nearly seven seasons – as they faltered in their Pac-12 opener and first real test of the season. Senior quarterback Sean Mannion was 15-of-23 in the contest, throwing for a career-low 123 yards and a pair of interceptions.

“It's not just throwing it, it's the whole passing game we've got to kind of detail out and do better with,” Oregon State coach Mike Riley said on Tuesday’s Pac-12 coaches’ conference call. “So it's just a matter of getting back to business, (and) Sean is a great leader in a situation like this.” The Buffaloes, coming off a crushing 59-56 double-overtime loss a week ago at California, are allowing 35.6 points per game and surrendered 414 passing yards and an Oregon State-record six passing TDs to Mannion in a 44-17 road loss last season.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: Oregon State -6.5

ABOUT OREGON STATE (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12): Before falling to USC, the Beavers had beaten Portland State (29-14), Hawaii (38-30) and San Diego State (28-7). Wide receiver Victor Bolden suffered a dislocated pinkie finger in the win over San Diego State and will likely have to wait another week to get back on the field, but fellow wideout Rahmel Dockery is expected back Saturday after sitting out the USC game with a hip pointer. Meanwhile, Oregon State has a special weapon in its kickoff-return unit which leads the FBS ranks with an average of 32.5 yards per return after Ryan Murphy’s 97-yard runback provided the Beavers with their only touchdown against USC.

ABOUT COLORADO (2-3, 0-2): The Buffs nearly had their third win in the last four games last Saturday at Cal but couldn’t hold on to regulation leads of 21-7, 28-14 and 42-35 and were turned back on fourth down at the Bears’ 1-yard line going for the winning TD in the second overtime. Quarterback Sefo Liufau set school single-game records with 46 completions (in 67 attempts) and seven touchdown passes in the loss and has thrown for two or more TDs in a Colorado-record eight straight games. Liufau’s favorite target is wide receiver Nelson Spruce, who tied a Pac-12 record with 19 receptions against Cal, and leads the FBS in receptions (56) and receiving touchdowns (10).

EXTRA POINTS

1. After its win last season in Corvallis, Oregon State holds a 4-2 lead in the all-time series with Colorado but has not played in Boulder since a 28-21 loss in 1988.

2. Colorado is 4-25 in Pac-12 play since joining the conference in 2011 and has been outscored by an average of 44.1-20 in those 29 contests.

3. Mannion ranks third on the Pac-12 career passing yards list with 11,462 and needs 357 to pass second-place Carson Palmer of USC and 866 to supplant Matt Barkley (USC) as the conference’s all-time leader.

PREDICTION: Oregon State 31, Colorado 27