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The Oregon State Beavers and Utah Utes will open their 2007 football campaigns when they meet on the field at OSU’s Reiser Stadium Thursday night. The game will be televised on FSN (Northwest) at 10 p.m. ET. Oddsmakers at online sportsbook SBG Global , have installed the Beavers a home favorite with a -7.0 chalk.

Utes coach Kyle Wittingham told the press Monday, his offense, led by quarterback Brian Johnson and 10 returning offensive starters have looked sharp. The secondary, a big question mark entering August camp, has made strides. “We’ve brought them as far along as we can as a coaching staff but now we need to get them in a game,” Whittingham said. Another Utes question mark entering the season is in the running game. For the game at OSU, the duties will be handled as running back by committee, rotating between Ray Stowers, Darryl Poston and Matt Asiata. 

It appears the Beavers might be playing a two quarterback system with Lyle Moevao and Sean Canfield since coach Mike Riley hasn’t settled on a starter to replace Matt Moore, now departed to the NFL.

"I don't know why they both can't play well," Riley said. “I have noticed a kind of a growing confidence in both of them; as the last 3 or 4 days of practice have occurred I have felt a good feeling from both of them. And like I said initially, I wanted to pick a quarterback and they never really allowed that, or separated from each other. And in the mean time, I think that when they heard how we were going to do it, they got ready to go separately and their doing a nice job and I like what I see and I really have a sense that they can and will both play well.” 

While preparing for their trip to Corvallis, Utes coaches ponder one question. Will Beavers All-American receiver Sammy Stroughter play Thursday night? “We’re planning on that he plays Whittingham said. “And if he does, that makes them more potent.” 

Stroughter, the Beavers top offensive player, has not been practicing due to personal reasons. Insiders are predicting Stroughter will play while Riley says probably not. After missing two weeks of practice he showed up on the practice field Saturday in pads and practiced. 

It was published in the official Oregon State athletic website that Stroughter's return is still undetermined as he is just "testing the water." An ultimate return will be a personal choice made by Stroughter in the undetermined future. 

The key to this game will come down to which team plays the best defense and wins the kicking game. The advantage in both areas should go to the Beavers. OSU is returning most of its defensive players who led the PAC-10 in sacks and were one of the top ten teams in the nation in tackles for a loss. On special teams, senior place kicker Alexis Serna will also handle punting chores. Serna has been one of the nations best kickers. 

Prediction: Oregon State -7.0 …Utah is expected to have a good offense but I always give the game advantage to a team with the best defense and that belongs to the Beavers.

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