First look: (12) Oregon at (25) Washington State

Oct. 15, 2018 Updated Mon., Oct. 15, 2018 at 6:59 p.m.

By Theo Lawson theol@spokesman.com (509) 459-5584

Three things to know

1. By beating Oregon for the fourth time in four years, WSU would match the longest win streak in program history against the Ducks. The Cougars have won four in a row against their nemesis from the Pac-12 North four other times – from 1950-53, 1971-74, 1976-79 and 1981-84. Had WSU won the games played in 1975 and ’80, it would’ve been a 14-game streak for the Cougars.

2. But the Ducks have a strong record when visiting a College GameDay site. Oregon has faced that scenario seven times and won five times. Here are the Ducks’ results: 1998, UCLA 41, Oregon 38 (OT); 2009, Oregon 44, Arizona 41 (2OT); 2010, Oregon 53, USC 32; 2010, Oregon 37, Oregon State 20; 2011, Oregon 53, Stanford 30; 2013, Oregon 45, Washington 24; 2015, Michigan State 31, Oregon 28.

3. Two Oregon assistant coaches will return to Pullman for the first time since leaving Mike Leach’s staff at WSU. The Cougars will reunite with former defensive line coach Joe Salave’a for the second time since Salave’a accepted the same job at Oregon last season. It’ll be the first reunion with ex-Cougar running backs coach Jim Mastro, who became Mario Cristobal’s running backs coach and run-game coordinator after spending six years at WSU.

What is it? No. 25 Washington State (5-1, 2-1) hosts No. 12 Oregon (5-1, 2-1) in a Pac-12 North showdown of ranked teams that also share identical records.

Where is it? Martin Stadium in Pullman.

When is it? Kickoff is 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Where can I watch it? The game will air on Fox 28.

Who is favored? The Cougars are, by two points.

How did they fare last week? The Ducks pulled an upset of then-seventh-ranked Washington at Autzen Stadium last Saturday, winning 30-27 on CJ Verdell’s touchdown run in overtime. The Cougars had a bye week after beating Oregon State 56-37 on Oct. 6.

Why Oregon will win: Justin Herbert is healthy this time. The Cougars have won their past three against Oregon, but the Ducks haven’t exactly had a premier QB playing against WSU since Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota in 2014. Jeff Lockie, a former Mariota backup, started in a 45-38 Cougs win in 2015. Dakota Prukop and Herbert, then a true freshman, split time in 2016 and true freshman Braxton Burmeister played in last year’s game. Oregon QBs completed just 57 percent of their passes for three touchdowns and four interceptions during that span. Herbert, meanwhile, will be the best signal-caller the Cougars meet this season – and it’s not close.

Why WSU will win: Under Mike Leach, the Cougars are just 1-5 coming out of the bye week, their only win coming at home against the Ducks in 2016. But in theory, WSU should have the advantage of a week’s rest, while the Ducks are coming out of an overtime slugfest against UW – and possibly still riding a high from their upset win in Eugene. And by not playing, the Cougars avoided the risk of losing two offensive line starters to injury. Oregon tackle Penei Sewell and guard Dallas Warmack didn’t finish the UW game and seem to be questionable for Saturday’s contest in Pullman.

What happened last time? Playing withouit the injured Herbert, Willie Taggart’s Ducks opened up a 10-7 lead on the Cougars after the first quarter of last year’s game in Eugene, but were held scoreless after that. Behind Luke Falk’s arm and Erik Powell’s foot, Washington State reeled off 26 consecutive points between the second and fourth quarters to emerge with a 33-10 victory.

First look: (12) Oregon at (25) Washington State

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