First look

Time: 3:30 p.m. Saturday. TV: FSN

The records: WSU 4-6, 2-5 in Pac-10; Oregon State 6-4, 4-3.

Last week: WSU defeated Stanford 33-17. Oregon State defeated Washington 29-23.

Last time: WSU won 13-6 at Oregon State last season.

The line: WSU by 2

What it means for WSU: This is the second of three must-win games for the Cougars if they want to play in the postseason. It is also the last home game for some of the more prolific seniors in WSU history, including receiver Michael Bumpus and quarterback Alex Brink, both of whom moved to the top of the school’s career records this year.

What it means for Oregon State: The Beavers have the six wins that makes them conditionally bowl eligible, and it looks like the key condition, a contractually available conference bowl slot, should be there for them, unless Arizona or UCLA pull an upset or two. OSU will be off until Dec. 1 when it faces Oregon in the Civil War. In other words, Saturday’s game doesn’t mean all that much for the Beavers.

Key matchup: OSU quarterback Lyle Moevao or Sean Canfield vs. WSU middle linebacker Greg Trent.

Moevao, a sophomore, lost the quarterback battle before the season to fellow sophomore Canfield. But Moevao was called on against the Huskies as Canfield had to sit due to a shoulder injury to his throwing arm suffered the week before against USC on one of the Trojans’ nine sacks. Moevao was less than spectacular against UW, unable to lead the Beavers to the end zone until the fourth quarter. He finished 10 of 22 passing for 109 yards and an interception. The Cougars will make it a priority to stuff OSU’s running game keyed by Yvenson Bernard (149 yards on 36 carries vs. Washington) and force Moevao or Canfield to beat them through the air. To do that, they’ll have to avoid the blitzing Trent, who made life miserable for Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard last Saturday.

Vince Grippi