We have a pretty good idea that Oregon State is not going to be able to cope with higher-caliber opposition this season, as recent losses to Nebraska, Baylor, and Pitt suggest. Simply, the Beavers are going to have to shoot better than their current 26% beyond the arc .But high-scorer Jordan Pope by himself can turn around those fortunes, and OSU isn't facing a power conference foe tonight. It's just UCD, heavily reliant upon G Elijah Pepper (22.8 ppg). As Pepper is scoring almost one-third of all Aggies points, we're not sure there is a team in the country more reliant upon one player than Davis, which is also off a home loss to nearby Sac State. Play OSU

It is not helping Wayne Tinkle's OSU offense to be nailing barely 26% from beyond the arc; the Beavers couldn't hit the broad side of a barn in the loss to Pitt, missing 19 of 21 triple attempts. Sharpshooter Jordan Pope really lost his long-range eye the last two games vs. Pitt and Baylor, missing a combined 9 of 11 triples. It's worth noting that earlier OSU "overs" vs. App State and Troy both required OTs after landing well below the "totals" in regulation. Meanwhile with the UCD offense bogging down and almost totally reliant upon bombardier G Elijah Pepper, getting to 140 looks a big ask of these two in Corvallis. Play UCD-OSU "Under"

Truly feel bad for Oregon State (and Wazzu) for getting left out in the cold by the other Pac-12 members. Maybe both use it as a rallying cry this season. UC Davis is a decent Big West team but it really has no right going to a Pac-12 school and winning. Maybe UCSB or Long Beach State from the league. Elijah Pepper is excellent for UC Davis and Ty Johnson is a good player. Both would play big roles at Oregon State, too, but overall that Beavers roster is certainly better. OSU has won six straight nonconference home games and has a good sophomore trio of Jordan Pope, Tyler Bilodeau and KC Ibekwe.