Cougars looking to end four-game skid against Oregon State

After throwing for 370 yards in relief of Connor Halliday, freshman Luke Falk will make his first start Saturday. (AP)

WSU (2-7) at Oregon State (4-4)

• Kickoff: 1 p.m.
• Where: Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore.
• Radio: 710 ESPN Seattle
• Line: Oregon State by 8

What’s at stake: Nothing, really, for the Cougars, who have lost four in a row and are now 2-7 on the season. I’m curious to see how Washington State will respond with no bowl hopes anymore.

Why the Cougs might win: The Beavers have lost three in a row, including a 45-31 defeat to Cal last Saturday. Simply put, Oregon State isn’t very good. Then again, neither is Washington State.

Sean Mannion broke Pac-12 passing records this year, but it hasn’t been his best season in Corvallis. He’s completing 62 percent of his passes and has thrown only nine touchdown passes with six interceptions.

I’m always looking for negative things to say about Cougars opponents because it gives me hope that maybe Washington State can win the game. In this case, I looked at the Pac-12 stats and discovered that Oregon State is last in the conference in third-down conversions at 30 percent. The Beavers are also the most-penalized team in the conference.

Why the Cougs might lose: Oregon State is at home, and the Beavers appear to have the somewhat better team. They also have their starting quarterback in Mannion; the Cougs lost Connor Halliday last week to a broken ankle.

Replacing Halliday late in the first quarter, Luke Falk threw for 370 yards against USC in an impressive debut. He showed poise and savvy. This will be different, his first start on the road.

Expect Mannion to tear up the young Cougars secondary because everyone tears it up.

The other thing, Washington State has allowed six total punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns this year. It’s reached the point of being comical and predictable. Last week I wrote that USC would have a touchdown return, and sure enough, the Trojans got one in the first quarter when Nelson Agholor cashed in on a 65-yard punt return.

This week I’ll say the Beavers return a kickoff for a touchdown in the third quarter, maybe even to start the second half.

The Cougars have a chance to beat the Beavers but, honestly, there’s a better chance they’ll lose. A rough season is about to get even worse.

Prediction: Oregon State 38, Washington State 24

The Go 2 Guy also writes for SeattlePI.com and KitsapSun.com. You can reach Jim at jimmoorethego2guy@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @cougsgo.