Oregon State and USC are almost ready to do battle, and on Saturday, we’ll have live updates and conversations throughout the game here at BeaverBlitz. Today, on our final day of preparation, the site staff and two special guests are providing score predictions for the contest. Here’s how the BeaverBlitz crew thinks Saturday’s game will unfold.

First, a look at the season-long leaderboard:

The USC offense has looked unstoppable, which is no surprise given the ludicrous amount of talent the Trojans brought in via the Transfer Portal this past offseason. Oregon State’s defense has improved quite a bit too, but is it good enough to slow down Caleb Williams and Co.? If the Beavers can force a few turnovers, that’ll go a long way in preventing the Trojans from lighting up the scoreboard.

I think Oregon State has a good enough offense to hang with USC in a shootout, and that’s the direction I see Saturday’s game heading. This has the potential to swing the Beavers’ way, but I think USC is going to score enough to avoid the upset.

Pre-season I picked this game as a win for the Beavers. New system. New coach. Start of the season. And then I watched USC and saw a REALLY good offense.

I like that this game is in Corvallis and think the home crowd will be a big help, however, the defense hasn't shown me enough from a pass rush perspective to tell me that they will be able to stop USC's potent passing attack. The other X Factor for me is that OSU's kicking game is in a bit of shambles with Everett Hayes suffering through a groin injury.

Oregon State's offense keeps it close, and if the Beavers are able to get a few takeaways it may come down to a touchdown, but USC just has too much talent on offense for the Beaver defense to handle.

I've gone back and forth all week on this one.  USC has looked really impressive in the pre-season.  But so has Oregon State.  Should be a real barn burner.  Pre-season I picked OSU in this game, and I'm going to stick with it.    

Not that all of the first three were easy to pick by any means, but this one is a major grind - rationally, and emotionally.

I feel like (well, and/or hope) this OSU team is going to beat someone (or someones) that the pundits say they shouldn't, and the soft spots in the USC D (especially against the run) make me think this could be the week to get that upset win. USC's O is scary good (best offense you can buy in college FB), but if clicking, our O gives us better than a puncher's chance.

No Musgrave hurts a lot. Opens the doors for talented kids behind him to step up and I think we may still see some good work out of the TE position, and it may well be the run game and whether or not it can be dominant that truly dictates our fate, but no getting around the fact we'll be without perhaps our best player and a key weapon on offense.

Heart says home magic against the dirty defectors that might be getting a bit too full of themselves means Beavs by 3, head says USC has just too much elite talent on offense and even if Beavs play well, they come up short by 3-7.

I hate it, but I'll go on record with a USC win.

Oh how I hope I'm wrong.

Is there anything worse than agreeing with Raju?

I also think the Beavers will struggle. I had this one marked as a loss at the beginning of the season. That being said, in a last-minute change as my monkey brain defeats my frontal cortex in its decision-making race, I am going to put my perfect record on the line. Should OSU want to take the next step or two towards a ranking or a bowl berth that inspires the team and fans alike, they need to win games like this. Also, screw those guys for casting shade over the Pac-12 and making college football a little suckier nationally. 

I am going to predict that the Beavers win in a close 2006-style match, where they make crazy weird plays and escape with a close win at home!

I think before the season I had the Beavers winning this one. But I won't lie, not having Luke Musgrave and Trey Lowe this weekend hurts. They are two weapons the Beavers could've used to exploit USC's weaknesses on defense. The Beavers will need to play a complete and nearly flawless game now. They need to be able to move the chains consistently and keep the Trojans’ offense off the field. If OSU can get its running game going, things will be a lot easier. That said, I think the Beavers lose a heartbreaker.

As one of the most electric football players ever at Oregon State, Jacquizz Rodgers' spot on the Mount Rushmore of Beaver running backs remains secure more than a decade after the conclusion of his collegiate career. Perhaps his most memorable performance came just a few weeks into his freshman campaign when he ran all over USC in Oregon State’s upset win over the top-ranked team in the country.

2010: 26 Carries / 128 Yards (4.9 avg) / 1 TD / 7 Receptions / 43 Yards

2009: 20 Carries / 113 Yards (5.7 avg) / 1 TD / 4 Receptions / 10 Yards / 1 TD

2008: 37 Carries / 186 Yards (5.0 avg) / 2 TD / 2 Receptions / 27 Yards

Across a six-year career at Oregon State, Trevon Bradford served as a weapon not only in the receiving game, but in the rushing attack and special teams element, as well. His career-best mark in receptions came in the Beavers’ 2018 matchup against USC - a game in which he also returned a kick for 55 yards.

2018: 10 Receptions / 63 Yards / 1 Kick Return / 55 Yards

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