ROUNDUP: Early picks

SUMMERTIME IS when the college football preseason magazines begin to hit the shelves. Lindy’s, Phil Steele and Athlon are weighing in, and they're not exactly glowing when it comes to the Beavers’ chances in 2012. History, however, might indicate otherwise.

For the 2012 season, Lindy’s and Athlon both peg Oregon State for a last place finish in the six-team Pac-12 North.

Phil Steele has Oregon State finishing in fourth place.

Beaver fans will instead be hoping for a result similar to recent years when OSU was picked to finish lower by the preseason mags than they ultimately did in the standings.

The preseason magazines picked OSU to wind up 7th in 2006, they finished 3rd. The difference was less pronounced a year later, when OSU was picked 4th and finished 3rd in 2007.

In 2008, OSU was picked 5th and finished in a tie for 2nd. In ’09, OSU was tabbed 4th and once again finished in a tie for 2nd place.

Oregon State, in an analysis by Stassen Football of predictive finish vs. actual finish over a span of 23 seasons from 1989-2011, was the 15th most underrated team in the nation.

Athlon has also released their 2012 All-Pac-12 teams. Oregon State has five players on the first, second and third teams.

CB Jordan Poyer was selected to the first team.

DE Scott Crichton was a second team selection.

And WR Markus Wheaton, OL Josh Andrews and Poyer again, as a punt returner, were third team picks.