CFI: SUN DEVILS HOPE TO SINK DUCKS

BY ARTHUR DiCESARE
PAC-10 INSIDER

The fifth-ranked Ducks and fourth-ranked Sun Devils meet in a pivotal match up at Autzen Stadium on Saturday as each program looks to move closer to a conference title and potential BCS berth. You could make the case that this is the biggest game for each program in ten plus years. The showdown features the top two scoring offenses in the Pac-10. The early edge would have to go towards Oregon due to home field advantage, one of the top-rated offenses in the country, and the fact that they have the best two players in the game in quarterback Dennis Dixon and running back Jonathan Stewart.

The big story all week has been about Rudy Carpenter who was unable to throw in practice Tuesday due to swelling in his sprained right thumb. Carpenter was able to throw on Thursday and Coach Erickson expects the thumb to be no problem come game day. This game has all the makings of an old fashion Texas shootout via Eugene. Oregon with its dynamic spread offense and an Arizona State offense, which relies on balance but has the ability to strike quick with six touchdowns of forty plus yards.

Oregon will rely on their raucous crowd to force Arizona State into some costly penalties, Arizona State averages seven penalties a game. The crowd will help energize the defense that will look to force some key turnovers. Dennis Dixon who will once again be working without two of his top receivers and has only thrown three picks on the season will have to be wary of Arizona States opportunistic secondary that boasts the two top interception leaders in the conference. Arizona State is also limiting opponents to 15.6 points per game best in the Pac-10 and seventh in the nation. I expect Oregon to try and control the game with back Jonathan Stewart, look for him to carry the ball 25 plus times.

Arizona State will use its balance to attack Oregon; quarterback Rudy Carpenter has a two-back system that has both backs on pace for 900 yards. Carpenter also spreads the ball around to his receivers nicely with four receivers having 20 plus catches. Arizona State will have to avoid a trend of getting into early double-digit defects, which they have done three times this year including last week against Cal. Those three games all came at home and eventually turned into wins. Oregon is too talented and their crowd is too strong to allow Arizona State to coast early and come back late.

Arizona State- Oregon is college football’s game of the week, which has BCS implications involved. Many teams around the country will be very interested in the result of this game. I look forward to an exciting game that will feature a little bit of everything and if these are two teams you have not seen you are in for a treat. Both teams are extremely well-coached and have talent and toughness throughout their rosters. The big time playmakers in the back field for Oregon should be the difference and will help the Ducks pull away late, Oregon continues its march towards the Pac-10 crown 31-20.

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