Kickoff: Thursday, 9:00 p.m. ET
Line: Minnesota -12, Total: N/A

Power conference teams Oregon State and Minnesota begin their 2016 campaigns with their first meeting in 35 years.

Oregon State’s first season under head coach Gary Andersen was expectedly brutal, and the team beat only one FBS team (San Jose State) en route to a 2-10 (3-9 ATS) finish. The Beavers offense will receive a huge boost from Utah State transfer QB Darell Garretson, and has enough returning skill-position talent to improve upon last year’s 336 yards per game (111th in nation). OSU surrendered 40 or more points in seven of their nine Pac-12 games, and lost its best players at all three defensive levels. Oregon State is in for another long season as its rebuilding phase continues. 2015 was a turbulent year for Minnesota. After a 4-3 start, Jerry Kill had to step down because of health issues. Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys stepped in and went 1-5 to finish the regular season, but ultimately accomplished something Kill never had: a bowl victory. Even though Minnesota finished the regular season 5-7 (6-6 ATS), there were not enough six-win teams to fill the 80 bowl game bids. The Gophers got an invitation to the Quick Lane Bowl, where they beat Central Michigan 21-14 as 6.5-point favorites. A seemingly easy schedule should make a bowl berth a lot easier to attain in 2016. The offense returns starting QB Mitch Leidner and potent RB tandem Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks. The LB corps should be a strength, but the loss of both starting CB deteriorates what was an outstanding pass defense a year ago. Oregon State is 0-7 ATS & SU as an underdog of 10.5 to 21 points since 2014, and 3-12 ATS (1-14 SU) as an underdog of any amount during that time. Minnesota finished last season 5-1 ATS (2-4 SU) after Tracy Claeys took over as head coach. In the past two seasons, they’re 0-3 ATS (3-0 SU) as a home favorite of 7.5 to 14 points.

Oregon State’s 19.0 points per game ranked 115th in the nation last season. A dreadful quarterback rotation will be supplanted by transfer QB Darell Garretson, who threw for 2,586 yards, 18 TD and 10 INT in 14 games with Utah State before sitting out 2015. The Beavers plan to get creative with their skill-position athletes, and they have plenty of potential there. Top WRs Jordan Villamin (43 receptions, 660 yards, 5 TD) and Victor Bolden (461 receiving yards, 185 rushing yards) are back. Paul Lucas (7.5 yards per carry) and Seth Collins (575 rushing yards, 8 rushing TD as a QB last season) are listed as WRs and will be utilized in various arrangements in the formation. RB Ryan Nall (564 yards from scrimmage) is the lead back, and OSU hopes junior college transfer RB Kyle White can also contribute. By contrast, there’s little reason for optimism on defense. The Beavers gave up 37.0 points per game (114th in the nation), finishing last in the Pac-12 in both sacks and turnovers while allowing 5.1 yards per rush (112th). LB Rommel Mageo and S Justin Strong, two of their top-four tacklers, transferred out. OSU needs 311-pound DT Kalani Vakameilalo to control the line, while a deep-but-inexperienced rotation of pass-rushers tries to establish themselves in a new defensive system that emphasizes speed around the edge. LBs Manase Hungalu and Caleb Saulo are in for an increased role, while CBs Treston Decoud and Dwayne Williams are expected to improve in the secondary.

Minnesota scored only 22.5 points per game last season (106th in the nation). This year’s offensive attack will be led by the RB duo of Shannon Brooks (876 yards from scrimmage, 7 TD) and Rodney Smith (794 yards from scrimmage). Junior college transfers OT Garrison Wright and OG Vincent Calhoun are expected to improve the offensive line. Senior QB Mitch Leidner threw for 2,701 yards, 14 TD and 11 INT last season, adding six rushing scores. WR K.J. Maye (819 yards from scrimmage, 6 TD) is the only huge loss on offense, and head coach Terry Claeys is confident WRs Drew Wolitarsky (39 receptions, 524 yards) and Eric Carter (23 receptions, 255 yards) can pick up the slack, while TE Brandon Lingen’s (33 receptions, 428 yards) role increases. 300-pound DL Steven Richardson (8 TFL, 3.5 sacks) is a steady inside presence, but the Gophers lack pass-rushing talent on the outside. LBs Cody Poock (56 solo tackles, 5.5 TFL) and Jack Lynn (11 TFL) are pillars of the defense. After Minnesota held opponents to 180 passing yards per game (11th in the nation), they lost both starting cornerbacks. Much is expected of senior CB Jalen Myrick, and S Damarius Travis, granted a redshirt year after a Week 1 hamstring injury, might be the most important defensive player for the Gophers.