GAME NOTES: The 17th-ranked Oregon State Beavers will try to punch their ticket to the Rose Bowl this weekend, as they host the 19th-ranked Oregon Ducks in a key Pac-10 affair at Reser Stadium.

The Beavers currently sit atop the Pac-10 standings with USC at 7-1, but since OSU defeated the Trojans earlier this season, it would own the tie-breaker in the event each team finishes 8-1. In other words, if OSU wins this weekend, it will earn its first Rose Bowl appearance since New Year's day in 1965. The Beavers kept those hopes alive last weekend, with a dramatic 19-17 victory at Arizona. It was the sixth straight win for the team, marking its longest such streak since running off seven in a row in 2000. The Beavers now return back home, where they have won eight straight and 13 of their last 14 outings.

As for Oregon, it still has an outside shot to earn a share of the Pac-10 title, but it will need some help. At 6-2 within the league, the Ducks would not only need to win this weekend, but they would also need USC to lose in its finale against UCLA, creating a three-way tie. Oregon has had plenty of time to prepare for this game, as it was last in action in a 55-45 triumph of Arizona on November 15th.

This weekend's game marks the 112th installment in what is known as the "Civil War" and Oregon leads this rivalry by a 55-46-10 margin. The Ducks are 21-8-1 versus OSU over the last 30 year, but the Beavers have wont the last five meetings in Corvallis.

The Ducks have enjoyed a highly productive campaign on the offensive side of the ball, where they are averaging a healthy 39.8 ppg behind 458.5 total ypg. Oregon has done a majority of its damage on the ground, rushing for 268.1 yards and 39 touchdowns. In the team's last game, Oregon rolled up 504 yards of total offense, including 206 via the run, in a wild 55-45 win over Arizona. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli did most of the damage, as he threw for a career- high 298 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 89 yards and three more scores on just 10 carries.

"He did a great job of getting the ball around to different people on our offense," stated head coach Mike Bellotti. "He had confidence throwing the ball with it not being wet. He cut it loose and we caught it."

Masoli, who started the season as the third-string quarterback before moving into a starting role because of injuries, has really come on strong and has not only thrown for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns, but he has also run for 559 yards and six more scores. He adds another dimension to an already potent ground attack that is paced by the duo of Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount. Johnson paces the team with 863 yards and he has scored 11 touchdowns, while Blount follows with 816 yards and a team-best 15 scores. Blount, who is averaging an impressive 7.2 yards per carry, is just one touchdown shy of setting a new single-season record for scoring runs.

Defensively, Oregon thrives on make big plays, as it has forced 25 turnovers and recorded 33 sacks on the year. The miscues and sacks have helped compensate for some of the team's 375.7 total ypg it is allowing. The Ducks have been much more vulnerable against the pass (253.5 ypg) than the run (122.2 ypg) thus far.

In it's last outing, Oregon was beat for 527 total yards, including 328 through the air, by Arizona. The defense, though, came up with three turnovers and three sacks to help the team come out on top.

"That's what defense is" said ROV Patrick Chung. "We are running the field and making plays the whole game. Its all about your mentality."

Chung played a big part in the win, as he posted nine tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception in which he returned 31 yards for a score. Nick Reed added a forced fumble and a sack, and he has been the team's top pass rusher this season, leading the way with 10 sacks and 16.5 TFLs.

The Beavers have found success on the ground as well as through the air this season, averaging 171.5 rushing ypg and 242.7 passing ypg. Protecting the ball has also been a strength of this unit, which has committed just 14 turnovers on the year.

Last weekend, OSU went for 166 yards via the run and 224 yards courtesy of the pass, as they defeated Arizona on a last second field goal by Justin Kahut. It was a gritty effort by OSU, which put together a seven-play, 73-yard drive in with 1:19 left to set up the game-winning kick. Quarterback Sean Canfield, who started in place of the injured Lyle Moevao, made some big plays on that drive and converted on 20-of-32 tosses for 224 yards and a score in the game. Canfield has seen plenty of playing time down the stretch, throwing for 703 yards and six scores this season, and he could end up being the starter again with Moevao being listed as questionable.

OSU will also have to overcome the loss of freshman sensation Jacquizz Rodgers, who leads the Pac-10 in rushing with 1,253 yards, but is listed as doubtful after injuring his shoulder last weekend. Ryan McCants stepped in after Jacquizz went down last weekend and he rushed for 52 yards on 15 carries. Wideout James Rodgers, brother of Jacquizz, actually led OSU with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown last weekend, getting all his carries on reverses out of his receiver slot. James is one of three lethal weapons in the passing game for OSU, as he has made 50 catches for 612 yards and four scores. Sammie Stroughter leads the team with 57 catches, 807 yards and seven touchdowns, while Shane Morales rounds out the trio with 44 catches for 596 yards and six scores. Last weekend, Stroughter was the one who stepped up with five receptions that led to 116 yards and a score.

OSU has more than held its own on defense as well, limiting opposing clubs to 21.4 ppg and just 289.6 total ypg. The unit has had success in stopping both the run (112.0 ypg) and pass (177.6 ypg) and has also recorded 20 takeaways and 31 sacks.

Facing a potent offense last weekend, the Beavers did a great job in limiting Arizona to just 297 total yards. The defense didn't force any turnovers, but it did manage three sacks in the victory. Greg Laybourn led the charge with 11 tackles, while Victor Butler had 2.0 TFLs and 1.5 sacks. On the year, Laybourn paces OSU with 94 stops and three interceptions and Butler leads the way with 16.0 TFLs and 7.5 sacks.

This is obviously the most important game of the season for the Beavers, but it looks like they are going to be missing a pair of key players on offense and that will make things much more difficult. OSU though, is stingy on defense and that should help it slow down Oregon enough to pull out the win.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Oregon State 31, Oregon 30