Nicholls State @ Oregon State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2012 ) Nicholls State 0, Oregon State 0

Oregon State will never be happier to see Nicholls State on the schedule than this Saturday. The No. 17 Beavers need an opponent to take out their frustrations on after a mistake-filled “Civil War” loss to Oregon on Nov. 24 and the visiting Colonels certainly fit the bill. Nicholls State has only one victory and it came against Evangel University, an NAIA school in Missouri. The Colonels were routed 66-16 by Tulsa in an early season meeting against a major-conference school. Oregon State committed six turnovers in the humbling loss to the Ducks. This contest was originally slated to be played Sept. 3 but was postponed when Hurricane Isaac hit and prevented Nicholls State from being able to travel.

TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: None.

ABOUT NICHOLLS STATE (1-9): The Colonels allow 34.9 points per game so it will take a huge defensive turnaround for Nicholls State to have any chance of keeping the score respectable. Senior middle linebacker Jordan Piper has a team-high 102 tackles and tied the school mark earlier this season with 23 stops against Central Arkansas. Senior linebacker/defensive end Rashar Knight leads the squad with 10 tackles for losses. Junior quarterback Landry Klann has passed for 1,885 yards and eight touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Junior Marcus Washington has a team-best 550 rushing yards.

ABOUT OREGON STATE (8-3): Sophomore quarterback Sean Mannion passed for 311 yards against Oregon but his four interceptions are a more telling item about his performance. Mannion has thrown 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in an up-and-down campaign. Senior Markus Wheaton has caught 76 passes to raise his career count to 212, fourth-most in school history. The record is held by his former teammate, James Rodgers (222 from 2007-11). Wheaton has 1,084 yards and doesn’t even lead the team. Big-play sophomore Brandin Cooks has 1,113 on 63 receptions. Senior cornerback Jordan Poyer (12 career interceptions) will be playing in his final home game and sophomore defensive end Scott Crichton has 16 tackles for loss, including nine sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. This is the first time Oregon State and Nicholls State will play and it also marks the first time the Beavers have faced a team from the Southland Conference.

2. Nicholls State has lost 22 consecutive games when trailing at halftime.

3. The Beavers committed only 14 turnovers in 10 games before the six miscues against Oregon.

PREDICTION: Oregon State 62, Nicholls State 6