Bodog Beat

Oregon State is the 2-point underdog against Cincinnati, making for a very entertaining game. (AP Images)

This game should be one of the most entertaining of the weekend, as it features two teams in Cincinnati and Oregon State struggling to get truly recognized as big-time powers.

"We're both trying to break through. Both of us want to move up the echelon, and these are the kind of games you want to play," Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly said.

Kelly has turned the Bearcats into an offensive juggernaut, and they are second only to Florida in scoring so far this season. On the flip side, the Beavers have suddenly morphed into a defensive team, having allowed a total of 28 points in the last three games (including last year's Sun Bowl) and having shut out those three opponents in the first half.

OSU, which is a 2-point home underdog at the Bodog Sportsbook, simply doesn't lose at home to a non-conference team, having won 26 games in a row vs. teams from outside the Pac-10. Of course, none of those opponents were the quality of No. 17 Cincinnati. In fact, the last non-conference BCS team to visit Corvallis was Baylor way back in 1998.

The best player on the field Saturday night will be OSU sophomore RB Jacquizz Rodgers, the reigning Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. He missed some practice this week with an ankle injury but will play. He ranks No. 8 nationally in rushing and had career-longest runs twice last week against UNLV: a 45-yarder and then a 47-yarder. When the Beavers get a 100-yard rusher, they have won 15 of the past 16 games. So needless to say, Rodgers will be the focus of that UC defense. But it better not overlook OSU quarterback Sean Canfield, who leads the nation with a completion percentage of 78.6 percent and has yet to throw a pick.

Oregon State, which hasn't started 3-0 since 2002, has won five of its past nine games against ranked teams, including last year's upset of No. 1 Southern Cal. It this game is close, it favors the Beavers: They are 14-2 since 2006 in games decided by seven points or less. That includes last week's 23-21 win over UNLV when Justin Kahut kicked game-winning 33-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining.

These two teams have met just once previously, a 34-7 Bearcat win in Cincinnati two seasons ago. Look for OSU to get a little payback this time.

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