The Oregon State Beavers take on the Appalachian State Mountaineers in Boone, NC. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Oregon State is favored by -1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -120. The total is set at 54.5 points.
Here’s my Oregon State vs. App State predictions and college football picks for Saturday, October 4, 2025.
Oregon State vs App State Prediction
- Oregon State vs. App State Pick: Oregon State +1.5
My App State vs. Oregon State best bet is on the Beavers to cover as road underdogs. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Oregon State vs App State Odds
| Oregon State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 54.5 -105o / -115u | -120 |
| App State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 54.5 -105o / -115u | -104 |
- Oregon State vs App State point spread: Oregon State -1.5
- Oregon State vs App State over/under: 54.5 points
- Oregon State vs App State moneyline: Oregon State -120, App State -104
Oregon State vs App State Preview
Oregon State Beavers Betting Preview: Beavers Aim for Stability Amidst Struggles
Thanks to a defense that snagged a timely interception and forced five second-half drives of four or fewer plays, Oregon State nearly knocked off Houston despite showing no signs of life yet this season.
It was the first time the Beavers didn't have their doors blown off by an FBS opponent, but gas definitely ran out of the tank as they allowed Houston to erase a 24-10 fourth-quarter deficit and win in overtime.
The question is, does that tank remain empty this week?
Oregon State gained a valuable piece back last week with the return of guard Tyler Voltin, who played his first snaps of the season. The offensive line has found a little more stability, but it remains a carousel, as eight players have logged at least 125 offensive snaps on the line through five games.
What hasn't changed is a bad receiving corps that's dropped nearly 9% of Maalik Murphy's pass attempts, plus Murphy himself, who's had three balls batted at the line of scrimmage and another five intercepted.
It's hard to score points and win when the receiving corps can't get any separation or catch the ball when they do.
Running back Anthony Hankerson has seen his snaps and touches dramatically decrease from last year and was outrushed in Week 5 by Cornell Hatcher, a redshirt freshman who was listed fourth on the preseason depth chart.
Hankerson hasn't gotten much help, as 2.5 of his 3.5 yards per carry have come after first contact.
Oregon State's pass defense remains a disaster, but Week 5 was its best showing by far, and that includes allowing a 21-play scoring drive.
Some progress is better than no progress, and that's a trend that may continue in the short term.
Appalachian State Mountaineers Betting Preview: Mountaineers Struggle With Turnovers & Injuries
Things are bad in Boone, North Carolina. While App State sits at 2-2, the offensive and defensive prospects have fallen off a cliff with consecutive losses to Southern Miss (38-22) and Boise State (47-14).
Nothing is clicking for the Mountaineers, whose lone FBS win came over Charlotte, which has yet to locate its own first FBS win.
Quarterback AJ Swann has been atrocious. He completed 10-of-22 passes against Boise State for … checks notes… 40 yards. The game prior, Swann tossed a trio of interceptions to Southern Miss. Swann led App State to 20 points against Lindenwood (ranks 69th in the FCS), too.
Not many teams feature worse quarterback situations than App State in its current form.
The good news is that the offensive line doesn't allow many tackles behind the line of scrimmage. But the running back room doesn't take advantage very often, and lead back Rashod Dubinion has three fumbles already this season.
Everyone on offense turns the ball over entirely too often, which has led to the 85th-ranked scoring offense in points per drive.
Turnovers put the defense in bad positions, but that's not the sole reason for a standing outside the top-100 in points per drive allowed. Injuries to the defensive secondary have transformed App State into a team that consistently gives up big plays through the air. I
t's a boom-or-bust reality – either App State generates a tackle for loss (of which it logged 11 against Boise State!) or it's giving up a huge play through the air.
All four secondary starters are on the injury report, and the depth behind them is poor. In addition, three of four starters on the defensive line are also banged up, and the depth isn't any better there.
Turnovers and injuries amount to nothing. And that may be where App State is headed in the near future with Sun Belt play right around the corner.
Oregon State vs App State Pick, Betting Analysis
Oregon State opened as far as a +2.5 underdog on the road but flipped to a favorite. That number flipped back to favor Appalachian State. The over/under saw movement down from 55.5 to 53.5 by midweek.
Boone, North Carolina, is one of the most isolated college towns in America. Opposing teams can't charter flights directly in.
Instead, they typically fly to Charlotte and take a two-hour bus ride into the town. That drive includes winding two-lane backroads, making it one of the most challenging cities to reach in the FBS.
Given this is a first-ever meeting and first trip to North Carolina for Oregon State since World War II (1942), the logistics of travel, especially without a bye week, shouldn't be ignored. The Beavers turn right around and return home to host a team from North Carolina, Wake Forest.
But I'm not sure the travel is enough to have me back Appalachian State given where it's at currently. There's almost nothing to point to and feel comfortable with.
Sure, the defense is havoc-y and generates lots of tackles for loss, but the offense can't hold onto the football enough for that to be a difference-maker. Oregon State showed significant defensive improvement throughout much of its last game.
I'll side with the early movement despite it returning to near open. Plenty of indicators, including power ratings, suggest that Oregon State is the favorite. There are a few opportunities for wins left on the schedule, and the Beavers better recognize this as one.
Pick: Oregon State +1.5
