Oregon State @ Stanford preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 26, 2013 ) Stanford 20, Oregon State 12

Stanford has fallen out of the national rankings for the first time since the 2010 preseason poll and will seek to get back on the winning side of the ledger when it hosts Oregon State on Saturday. The Cardinal dropped out of the polls after suffering a 26-10 loss to Arizona State last Saturday and stands just one game above .500 despite being viewed as a national contender prior to the season. The Beavers are always a threat with quarterback Sean Mannion on the field.

Mannion went over 12,000 career yards when Oregon State lost to Utah on Oct. 16 and needs 316 yards to surpass the all-time Pac-12 record of 12,327 held by USC’s Matt Barkley (2009-12). “We’re just not really sharp throwing the ball,” Beavers coach Mike Riley told reporters despite Mannion’s success. “I’m not talking about the quarterback. I’m just talking about the passing game in general. It’s not what it has been in the past.” Stanford’s defense has been strong, ranking second in both scoring defense (12.3) and total defense (254.9), third in passing defense (153 per game) and 12th in rushing defense (101.9).

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Stanford –13.5.

ABOUT OREGON STATE (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12): Mannion has completed 63.5 percent of his throws and has seven touchdowns to raise his career total to 75, second behind school record-holder Derek Anderson (79, 2001-04). The Beavers split the ball-carrying load between Terron Ward (412 yards) and Storm Woods (388), who is expected to play despite injuring a knee against Utah. Defensively, Oregon State has allowed just four passing touchdowns while strong-side linebacker Michael Doctor and middle linebacker Jabral Johnson are tied for the team lead with 34 tackles.

ABOUT STANFORD (4-3, 2-2): Multi-purpose standout Ty Montgomery is third among active FBS players with 4,791 career all-purpose yards and he leads the Cardinal with 43 receptions. Quarterback Kevin Hogan has completed 62.4 percent of his passes and has 11 touchdowns against four interceptions while Remound Wright leads the team in rushing with 318 yards. The strong defense is receiving stellar performances from inside linebackers Blake Martinez (55 tackles) and A.J. Tarpley (49) and outside linebacker Kevin Anderson (team-best 8.5 tackles for losses).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Stanford has won the last four meetings by a cumulative score of 123-48.

2. Beavers WR Richard Mullaney (elbow) was injured against Utah and is sidelined indefinitely.

3. Hogan has 40 career touchdown passes, one behind sixth-place Todd Husak (1996-99) on the Cardinals' all-time list.

PREDICTION: Stanford 23, Oregon State 17