Thank you,
Dave and Sam

Arizona Wildcats (6-4) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-7)
Saturday, November 28, 12:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Arizona -3.0

Sam’s Take (49 – 19):

This year’s installment of the Dual in the Desert had tremendous potential a week ago. After all, if Arizona could have hung on against Oregon and/or if ASU could have found a serviceable offense against the Bruins, one or both programs would have something special to play for. As it stands, the Devils have no shot at a bowl game and the ‘Cats have no shot at the “The Granddaddy of Them All”

So what is there to play for now? Much like this year’s UCLA-USC game, the Territorial Cup comes down to bragging rights in 2009. The two schools steaming hatred for one another will still provide plenty of motivation, and I expect aggressive physical play before, during and after the whistle.

Arizona heads to Tempe mentally drained and injury plagued. It has been a “what if” season for the ‘Cats, as the program really was only a few wacky bounces away from an undefeated conference record. Sonny Dykes offense will be without RB Nic Grigsby for yet another week, and it could also be without RB Keola Antolin. Arizona State is a good run-stopping team to begin with, so the Wildcats could really struggle to establish a ground game with their two most explosive backs out.

Fortunately for UA, QB Nic Foles is playing so well that it may not matter. Arizona will likely utilize their quick passing attack often this week, especially against a makeshift ASU secondary that has struggled with consistency.

For the second straight week, the Sun Devils will turn to QB Samson Szakacsy. Szakacsy is the best playmaking QB on the roster, but he’s also prone to making mistakes (as he proved against UCLA). If the sophomore has a big game against UA it will provide a huge shot in the arm for a program in search of an offensive identity (and Szakacsy would likely be at the top of the depth chart for 2010).

On paper this is a 10-point UA win, but rivalries are never that simple. I expect a physically dominant ASU defensive front seven to make life tough on Foles and Co. Will frustrating the potent ‘Cats attack be enough for the Devils to win? I don’t think it will. ASU has wasted great defensive performance all season, and I expect to see it happen again because of another underwhelming offensive performance.

Prediction: Arizona 27 – Arizona State 21

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: DT Earl Mitchell - Mitchell has been a dominant presence in the middle of the UA d-line, and I expect him to overpower a vulnerable ASU o-line.

Arizona State Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Kyle Williams - Williams has flourished since Szakacsy took over at QB (150 receiving yards 3 TDs in 2 games), and I expect to see more of the same this week.

Dave’s Take (50 – 18):

In most cases, coming off of a second-overtime loss which knocks a team out of the running for the conference title would set up a prime let-down type of game the following week.

A game against a hated rival isn’t “most cases”.

While there is nothing on the line this Saturday other than pride and in-state bragging rights, both teams should be at their best for that motivation alone.

I’d like to take the Sun Devils, I really would. I feel the same way I do about this one as I do about most Sun Devils games; they have the elite defense to keep it close, and they always seem to be just a play or two away from springing the upset, and this just might be the week.

Unfortunately, it never is. Every time I pick the Devils, the offense continues to putter and the defense’s effort goes to waste.

This game should be a lot of fun, and it could easily go either way. But while ASU may have the slight edge on defense, Arizona has the more noticeable one on offense; and I expect it to be the difference.

Prediction: Arizona 24 – Arizona State 17

Arizona State Sun Devils 4-7 Overall (2-6 Conference)

This Week’s Score: UCLA 23 – Arizona State 13

Next Week’s Opponent: Arizona

Yikes. Incredibly, the nightmarish 2008 season is actually looking good compared to this disastrous campaign. Has a team with a truly elite defense ever accomplished so little? ASU has been in so many close games this season because of the excellent defensive play, but the offense never came through. The Devils didn’t allow UCLA’s offense to score a TD for the entire game, and even managed to out gain the Bruins 315-292 in total yards. Yet somehow, ASU never really threatened to win the football game.

After watching this offense play 11 games, I can honestly say that it is one of the most inept units in the history of the program. For the first time since WWII, the Sun Devils will post back-to-back losing seasons. Oh, and for the first time in Dennis Erickson’s long college football career, he will have back-to-back losing seasons. Not a great time for the folks in Tempe.

I know a lot of people will be looking to blame QB Samson Szakacsy but the offensive problems are much bigger than him. Statistically, Szakacsy was very good (15/22 197 yards 2 TDs 1 INT), but when the pocket collapses on nearly every down an inexperienced QB is going to make mistakes. Personally, I still believe Szakacsy is the right choice for the Devils moving forward, but he needs time to develop and a MUCH BETTER supporting cast.

The season is essentially lost, but a rivalry is a rivalry right? At one point last Saturday night, it appeared ASU would be playing spoiler to the hated team from the south. Now that UA is officially eliminated from the Rose Bowl race, the only thing left to play for is the Territorial Cup and bragging rights. A win will give the program momentum heading into 2010, but an ugly loss will place Dennis Erickson firmly on the hot seat when next season starts.

Arizona State Sun Devils (4-6) vs. UCLA Bruins (5-5)
Saturday, November 21, 1:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: UCLA -5.0

Sam’s Take (46 – 18):

For most of the 2009 season, Arizona State and UCLA have looked like mirror images of one another. Each team features a very strong defense, an inconsistent offensive line, and most recently, a young quarterback with great promise. The Bruins and Sun Devils also share identical conference records (2-5) with their two Pac-10 wins coming over the lowly Washington schools.

As I look at this game, the biggest difference I see is the current state of the offenses. UCLA has struggled for most of the season offensively, but the unit has begun to make strides. QB Kevin Prince’s confidence seems to be high right now, and he finally has a difference maker to throw to on the outside in WR Nelson Rosario. If RB Derrick Coleman, Milton Knox, or Jonathan Franklin can spark the running game this week, the Bruins may have a chance to crack the stingy Sun Devil D.

Arizona State is looking to rally behind a new starting quarterback this week. Samson Szakacsy will be the third QB to start for the Devils this season, and he is also the most intriguing. Szakacsy is a true dual-threat with skills most suited for the zone-read scheme that Dennis Erickson implemented in the off-season. Against Oregon, Szakacsy demonstrated his ability to keep plays alive by scrambling, a foreign concept for the ASU offense up to that point.

Ultimately, I believe the Bruins will win a tight, hard-fought game this Saturday for two reasons. 1.) It’s senior day in Pasadena, and two of the best defensive players in the history of the program (CB Alterraun Verner, LB Reggie Carter) will be playing their final game in the Rose Bowl (and junior DT Brian Price is probably gone after this season as well). 2.) UCLA can become bowl eligible with a victory, which means the USC game is no longer a must win.

I look for the Bruins to prevail in a close and very physical game.

Prediction: UCLA 24 – Arizona State 20

Arizona State Player to Keep an Eye On: K Thomas Weber - In a close game, a player like Weber becomes invaluable. His groin injury appears to be a thing of the past, so the Devils should be in scoring range once they cross the Bruins’ 40-yard line.

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: FB Chane Moline - Moline is coming off of a 3 TD game against Wazzu, and the versatile fullback could have a big impact again this week.

Dave’s Take (49 – 15):

Before the season even started, I remember having this game circled as an extremely evenly matched one. My opinion hasn’t changed.

Both teams have weak offenses, both have strong defenses, both are clearly outside of the conference’s top tier, and both have wins over both Washington schools.

I’d consider this game a virtual coinflip. Yes UCLA has looked to be in better form over the last few weeks, but ASU’s four-game losing streak pretty much looks like UCLA’s five-game one did.

Before the season started, I picked UCLA to finish below ASU in conference play, and I’m sticking with that prediction. I expect a low-scoring ugly game with plenty of great defense and punting, and Arizona State to come out on top when it’s all said and done.

Prediction: Arizona State 16 – UCLA 13

Arizona State Sun Devils 4-6 Overall (2-5 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Oregon 44 – Arizona State 21

Next Week’s Opponent: @UCLA

This is looking all too familiar. A four game losing streak could soon turn to six… the same length as last season. ASU has not posted back-to-back losing seasons since 1946-47, but the program is staring 4-8 right in the face. The Devils are not favored to beat UCLA this week, and they won’t be favored to beat the Wildcats either. So what happened?

In my opinion, it has been a perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances. The offense wasn’t good to begin with, but when you play with a different combination of offensive lineman almost every week how can you expect to develop any cohesion? Three key contributors on the o-line suffered season ending injuries (Zach Schlink, Matt Hustad, Mike Marcisz) and numerous others missed time throughout the year. But the injury trouble wasn’t restricted to the o-line only, as 14 Sun Devils (seven different positions) suffered season-ending injuries.

The game against Oregon went about as expected. The normally stout ASU D never had a chance, but that should come as no surprise, as the Devils have not had any success against Chip Kelly’s misdirection spread attack since it debuted in 2007. Defensive coordinator Craig Bray even resorted to practicing without a ball all week in order to force the Devils to focus only on their assignments, but it just didn’t matter.

QB Brock Osweiler’s first start only lasted one half because of a shoulder injury, but that may have been a good thing. QB Samson Szakacsy led the offense on two third quarter TD drives which cut the UO lead to 31-21. Szakacsy gave ASU a dimension that it hasn’t had since Jake Plummer, but will Erickson stick with the mobile sophomore?

I certainly would.

Sure, Osweiler has the 6-8 frame and cannon arm, but Szakacsy appears to be at his best when the play breaks down, and on this offense, that is often. Roll the dice DE, because against the Bruins defensive line (especially DT Brian Price), ASU will need a QB that can escape the pocket quickly.

Ding Dong’ the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!

For some reason, this song was running through my head as I watched Stanford pummel USC.

For Trojans fans, it has been a fantastic ride for the last seven years. So fantastic, in fact, that Trojan fans are completely guilty of taking it for granted. Every single one of them (myself, included).

Virtually every hiccup along the way has cost USC a trip to the National Championship, which in turn turned the Rose Bowl into a consolation prize of sorts. USC fans are always disappointed to “only” win the Pac-10 and “only” go to the Rose Bowl.

And that’s one of the reasons why fans around the conference have hated the USC Trojans and their fans for the better part of a decade now, and as Stanford drove the final nail into the coffin that Washington had opened and Oregon had closed, there is plenty of reason for the rest of the conference to celebrate.

A friend of mine asked me, “Dave, you know your Pac-10; Is USC done for? I mean, I know they are this season, but are they done for good?”

I’m surprised at how many people are living in the moment so badly that they are actually asking this question. NO, USC isn’t done for good. They still have one of the best coaches in the country and a never-ending stable of 4 and 5-star talent. They will be a serious contender for the Pac-10 title next year, as well as the years to come.

The beauty, though, is that they won’t be the only serious contender. 2009 will not mark the beginning of the end of USC as a football power; but it will mark the end of their stranglehold over the rest of the conference.

PAC-10 ON THE RISE – FIVE TEAMS IN THE TOP 25

Many college football fans are going to continue to be ignorant and disregard the Pac-10.

They will continue to laugh off the conference for no reason at all, and ignore evidence of its strength. They will continue to hold the ridiculous double standard that when SEC teams beat each other up (which has been non-existent this year), it is an indication of how strong the conference is, but when the Pac-10 beats itself up, it is an indication of how weak the conference is. How does this even begin to make sense?

Of course, if you are one of these people, you are scoffing and preparing your “LOL PAC-10 TEH SUX” comment. Good for you.

But for the more reasonable, it is hard to ignore that the Pac-10 is on the rise.

Perhaps the strongest evidence of the Pac-10’s strength is the amount of BCS ranked teams it has. Heading into this weekend, the Pac-10 currently has 20% of the teams in the BCS top 25 with five; #11 Oregon, #17 Stanford, #18 USC, #19 Oregon State, and #25 California. The ACC and Big 10 each have four, the SEC, Big East, and Mountain West have three, the Big 12 has two, and the WAC has one.

What makes this even more impressive is the fact that the Pac-10 is the only conference that schedules only three out of conference games. They actually have to play a true round robin, and don’t have the opportunity to dodge big conference opponents or schedule an extra softy like other teams do.

TEAM-BY-TEAM, EVERYONE IS GETTING BETTER

What impresses me most about the Pac-10 this season is that as great and deep as the conference has proven to be this season, from the looks of it, it is only going to get better.

1-6:

Oregon – Still in control of their own destiny atop the Pac-10, Oregon has steam-rolled through most of their opponents, including USC and Cal. Their two losses have come against very good ranked opponents; and they’d love to have the Boise State game back as that continues to look more and more like an anomaly. The Mike Belotti to Chip Kelly transition was seamless, and with a fantastic and innovative system in place on both sides of the ball, Oregon will be a power for years to come. They have both Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James returning next year, and this was the year for the offensive and defensive lines to rebuild; both should be even stronger in 2010.

Stanford – Their late surge has given them back-to-back wins over conference powerhouses in Oregon and USC as well as a chance of a trip to the Rose Bowl if the cards fall right. Jim Harbaugh has turned this team around in a hurry, and they have taken on his personality as a hard-nosed physical team that never stops working. This was supposed to be the year to break in Andrew Luck, but he has already emerged as a star at the quarterback position. He will likely be even better next season, and Harbaugh’s excellent ability to recruit will be even easier after the display the Cardinal have put on over the last few weeks.

Oregon State – Year in and year out, Mike Riley churns out one of the most consistently strong teams in the Pac-10. The Beavers have finished in the Top 25 for three straight years, and from the looks of it will keep that streak alive here in 2009. Their excellent post-September play (as always) has put them in a position to take at least a share of the Pac-10 title with a win over their rival Ducks. Mike Riley is one of the best in the country at recruiting and developing players into his system, and there is no reason to believe the Beavers won’t continue to be a threat to make noise in the conference for as long as he’s at the helm.

Arizona – Hard to believe Mike Stoops was on the hot seat not too long ago. With the help of Sonny Dykes and the emergence of Nick Foles at QB, the Wildcats have an electrifying offense. They also have an extremely fast and talented defensive unit. With Oregon and USC still ahead, the path to the Rose Bowl is a difficult one, but it isn’t out of the question. And even if the ‘Cats do fall short this season, the valuable experience that they are gaining from playing meaningful conference games in November will pay huge dividends in creating a championship atmosphere next year and beyond.

USC – Remarkably, the once invincible Trojans find themselves staring at a potential Poinsettia or Emerald Bowl berth. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Trojans with an inexperienced quarterback and a defense that was almost entirely turned over from last season, but we refused to believe that it would be. Tons of injuries on offense didn’t help, either. But while the Trojans may be down and out this year, they will be right back in the thick of things next year. And for the first time in seven years, they won’t have the target on their back. It should be a lot of fun to see how Pete Carroll rallies the troops next season and beyond now that USC’s aura of invincibility is gone.

Cal – Hard to consider this year anything but a disappointment considering the high hopes coming in. On paper, Cal was right up there with USC among the most talented teams in the country. Jeff Tedford has done an outstanding job recruiting, and while the Bears haven’t been able to get over the hump yet, they seem to be an annual threat to do so. Every year we hype Cal up as one of the conference’s top teams and they end up falling short; they strike me as one of those teams that as soon as we all decide to finally count them out, that will be when it all comes together and they catch everyone off guard.

7-9:

UCLA – The fact that UCLA is the 7th or 8th best team in this conference is about as good of an indicator of the Pac-10’s strength as anything else. Yes, they have five losses; but all to the teams listed above, proving only that they aren’t quite in that tier yet. The Bruins did go into Tennessee with a redshirt freshman quarterback and take that game, and they also dominated what has turned out to be a pretty decent Kansas State team that beat Kansas a few weeks ago. Rick Neuheisel has been stockpiling great young talent, and this team is clearly going in the right direction; they just need to put it all together. A win over Arizona State or USC would make them bowl eligible, too.

Arizona State – Possessing arguably the best defense in the Pac-10, ASU has had a frustrating year due in large part to their inability to get anything going on offense. It is pretty clear that they are only a playmaker or two on offense away from making the jump into the category above. Even without one, Georgia, Cal, and USC were all near-misses that could have easily gone the Sun Devils’ way. If this team can get better play from the offensive line and quarterback next year, both very realistic possibilities, near misses will start turning into wins.

Washington – Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the Huskies have a long way to go to get back to respectability. That said, they have the right man to get them there in Steve Sarkisian. This has been made evident by their hard work and no-quit attitude, which helped them play a respectable game against LSU and pull off huge upsets over USC and Arizona. As Coach Sark brings in more talent, the Huskies should continue to rise, and until then they will likely continue to be a thorn in the side of the conferences top dogs.

10:

Washington State – And than there’s the Cougars. While WSU has made a few strides, they are hard to notice or get excited about with how rapidly the rest of the conference is rising. The situation looks pretty dire in Pullman, but on the bright side, there really isn’t anywhere to go but up from here.



THE WRAP UP

Looking at this conference from top to bottom, how can you deny its strength? Every single team (with perhaps the exception of WSU) appears to be either getting better or at the very least maintaining their competitive spot. From the looks of things, the Pac-10 is going to be a flat-out dogfight of excellent teams with top-flight talent for years to come.

Isn’t that what earned the SEC the reputation of being the nation’s best conference?

It’s about time to drop the bias.

Arizona State Sun Devils (4-5) vs. Oregon Ducks (7-2)
Saturday, November 14, 7:20 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Oregon -18.0

Sam’s Take (43 – 16):

Despite the disappointing loss in Palo Alto, Oregon is still in control of the Pac-10 race. The Ducks are big favorites this week and will likely be favored in their final two games (albeit by smaller margins), so the path to Pasadena is still clear. But Oregon’s continuing push towards the Rose Bowl will be only part of the story this Saturday in Eugene.

After weeks of anticipation, this game marks the return of RB LeGarrette Blount. Will Chip Kelly insert him into the lineup at some point Saturday? I suppose its possible, but Kelly made it very clear that “LaMichael James is our running back”.

It’s safe to assume that Nick Aliotti will not lose nearly as much sleep preparing for the Sun Devils as he did trying to scheme for Toby Gerhart, Andrew Luck and the potent Cardinal attack. The Ducks D will be looking to prove that last week was an aberration, and I expect the unit to succeed.

Oregon has feasted on opposing QBs all season (16th nationally in sacks), and now a true freshman enters Autzen for his first career start. While ASU QB Brock Osweiler has a very bright future in the Pac-10, this game figures to be nothing more than learning experience for the 6-8 signal caller.

Obviously Arizona State has an excellent defensive front seven, but the secondary is in shambles. I expect QB Jeremiah Masoli to pile up yards through the air all night, as the Devils simply don’t have enough cornerbacks left on the roster to make much of a difference. ASU has always had trouble defending the Ducks misdirection spread attack, and I expect that trend to continue. Once the UO passing game gets going, Masoli and James should find plenty of running space against a defense that frequently overpursues.

I expect Oregon to cruise this week, and then it’s off to the Old Pueblo for what could be the Pac-10 game of the year.

Prediction: Oregon 37 – Arizona State 14

Arizona State Player to Keep an Eye On: CB Deveron Carr - Carr is one of the new ASU cornerbacks that must step up for the rest of the season. He played well against USC, and must now prove that he can be consistent.

Oregon Player to Keep an Eye On: DE Kenny Rowe - The always active Rowe leads the Ducks with seven sacks this season, and he should thrive against an underwhelming ASU o-line.

Dave’s Take (46 – 13):

Plenty of teams in the Pac-10 benefited from Stanford’s upset win over Oregon, but ASU was not one of them. Had Oregon topped Stanford, the Sun Devils may have caught the Ducks looking ahead to the showdown @Arizona; but with the rude awakening at the hand of the Cardinal, there is little doubt that the Ducks will be prepared for this Saturday’s game.

Even if they had been unprepared, unlike Stanford, Arizona State’s offense isn’t going to pile up a ton of yards and points and put you in a hole early. The Ducks have scored 42 or more points in five straight games with Jeremiah Masoli at the helm, and have proven that the Boise State game was a fluke; if you are going to beat this team, you are going to have to score a ton of points.

Oregon may or may not get to the 42 mark this week, but there isn’t much doubt that the Sun Devils will need to score into the 30s to even have a chance. Considering they haven’t done so since week two against UL Monroe, and they are starting a true freshman quarterback against a very angry team in one of the toughest places to play in the conference?

I don’t like ASU’s chances.

Prediction: Oregon 38 – Arizona State 17

Arizona State Sun Devils 4-5 Overall (2-4 Conference)

This Week’s Score: USC 14 – Arizona State 9

Next Week’s Opponent: @Oregon

Can a 14-9 loss to USC be classified as a moral victory for this Sun Devil team? I for one do not think so. Like the Georgia and Cal games, ASU should have beaten USC but couldn’t because of offensive ineptitude.

In the week leading up to the ‘SC game, Dennis Erickson was quoted as saying two things that should bother Devil fans. First, he stated that while QB Danny Sullivan may not win many games for ASU, he doesn’t lose them either. After Will Harris’s game-changing INT TD, does that logic still make sense?

Second, Erickson stated that his reason for sticking with Sullivan had a lot to do with the fact that freshman QB Brock Osweiler “isn’t ready”. The true freshman may not be, but how ready is Sullivan? It seems clear to me that the “unready” Osweiler gives the Devils a much better chance to win than the much-maligned senior.

Will coach Erickson finally adopt Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh’s youth movement mentality by rolling the dice with an inexperienced but ultra-talented young QB? Don’t hold your breath.

While the loss to the Trojans was disheartening, there were some positives. Obviously, the defense was exceptional all game, holding an explosive offense to 258 total yards and 12 first downs (ASU had 23). I was most impressed with the two new secondary starters, as both S Clint Floyd and CB Deveron Carr locked down their assignments all night (Floyd had the lone Barkley INT).

QB Brock Osweiler’s numbers may not look great (11/27 153 yards 1 TD 1 INT) but he displayed phenomenal arm strength and his mobility was as good as advertised. WR Chris McGaha (9 rec. 118 yards 1 TD) made some incredible catches (no surprise of course) and he now leads the team with 613 receiving yards (4 TDs).

Next, ASU heads to Eugene to play an angry Oregon team. At 4-5 (2-4 in Pac-10), the Devils may have to win out in order to secure a bowl game, especially with six Pac-10 teams already bowl eligible. Once again, don’t hold your breath.

Like almost every other Pac-10 team this season, Arizona State will be searching for a new identity. The Sun Devils enter the 2009-10 season without two of the best players in program history. G James Harden and F Jeff Pendergraph accounted for 34.6 PPG, 13.8 RPG, and 5.1 APG per game last season, but both are now in the NBA.

Will ASU be able to survive without the superstar duo? I believe the answer is yes for one simple reason: Herb Sendek. Sendek has proven that his Devils can compete against anyone because of a deliberate offense and meticulously crafted zone defense. Aside from Pendergraph and Harden, ASU returns every major contributor from last season’s NCAA Tournament team. The challenge this year will be incorporating a talented freshman recruiting class into Sendek’s complicated system.

While this ASU team won’t have an All-American guiding it, the squad appears to be deeper and more talented from top to bottom than it has been in quite some time. Sendek has raised the profile of the program with newfound exposure (NBA Draft picks, NCAA Tournament Birth, 3rd place finish in Pac-10, 2nd place finish in Pac-10 Tourney) and a brand new practice facility (Weatherup Center).

Impact Superstar: G Derek Glasser

Glasser may not fit the mold of a stereotypical “superstar”, but he is invaluable for Sendek’s Devils. The ultra-experienced senior had a breakout season in 2008-09, finishing with 8.8 PPG and 4.8 APG, while shooting 41% from three-point distance. Glasser was ASU’s best player in both the Pac-10 Tournament and NCAA Tourney, and he has proven throughout his career that he is capable of hitting clutch shots when his team needs them most.

The 6-1 point guard from Marina Del Rey (CA) will engineer Sendek’s offense for the fourth year in a row, and that means the Devils will rarely turn the ball over. Glasser is a true floor general, possessing keen instincts and an extremely high basketball IQ.

I have always respected Glasser’s game because of his great decision-making. In many ways, having him on the floor is like having Sendek out there, and his leadership will play a big role in the development of the younger players.

Needs To Have A Big Year: C Eric Boateng

The loss of Jeff Pendergraph means the frontcourt now belongs to Boateng. The 6-10 senior from London, England has been in the program for a few years now, but he has yet to meet the high expectations that were set for him when he transferred from Duke. Last season, Boateng averaged 1.6 PPG and 2.0 RPG in 8.2 minutes per game.

The Sun Devils are a guard-heavy lineup that shoots the ball very well, but none of it will matter if Boateng can’t establish himself in the post. Word out of Tempe is that Boateng has never looked better, and his presence of the offensive and defensive boards will be critical to the Devils success in 2009-10.

Potential Impact Newcomer: G Trent Lockett

G Demetrius Walker and F Victor Rudd have the potential to make an impact this season, but fellow freshman Trent Lockett is my choice because of his intangibles. Herb Sendek had this to say about Lockett at the team’s media day: “I love Trent Lockett, and as you get to know him, you will too. He’s an amazing young man. He’s the consummate gentleman. He’s the prototype for a student athlete. Athletically, he’s very gifted. He’s going to be really good for Arizona State in so many ways.”

Both Rivals and Socut.com rated the 6-5 guard from Minnetonka (MN) as a 4-star prospect. Lockett is an explosive athlete with tremendous leaping ability and deep three-point range. He will be counted on to help offset the loss of James Harden, and could work his way into a starting role at some point during the season.

My Take

Even in a rebuilding season, you can never count out a Herb Sendek-coached team. There’s no doubt the Devils have plenty of question marks, but I expect to see a fundamentally-sound team that will never beat itself. If some of last season’s key contributors play well in 2009-10 (Kuksiks, Abbott, McMillan), this ASU squad may surprise people.

My gut tells me the Devils will be held back by their frontcourt this season. It is still difficult to project how good Boateng will be, and if he is in foul trouble who will step up (Pateev, Rhode)?

In the end, I expect ASU to finish somewhere around 8-10 or 9-9 in the conference, but by 2010-11, Herb Sendek’s young Devils should make a lot of noise in the Pac-10.

Projected Pac-10 Finish: 7th Place

USC Trojans (6-2) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-4)
Saturday, November 7, 5:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: USC -10.0

Sam’s Take (39 – 15):

The Trojans are coming off the worst loss of the Pete Carroll era, and that probably doesn’t bode well for ASU. Remember, this ‘SC program has not lost a game in the month of November since Carroll’s arrival.

Still, it’s difficult to know for sure how the Trojans dreadful performance in Eugene will affect the team moving forward. While the season may seem lost, a BCS Bowl is still likely if ‘SC wins out, so we will find out a lot about this team’s resiliency in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils may need to pull off the upset Saturday in order to keep their bowl hopes alive (remaining schedule includes @Ore, @UCLA, UA).

QB Matt Barkley really can’t be faulted for what took place last week, and I expect him to play very well in Tempe. ASU has proven to be rock solid against the run this season (4th nationally), so ‘SC will likely go to the air early with Barkley. The Devils D has developed a reputation for over-pursuing, so Jeremy Bates may also put in extra misdirection plays this week.

Dennis Erickson will once again turn to ASU QB Danny Sullivan, but he also hinted that former ‘SC commit QB Samson Szakacsy will have an expanded role in the offense. RB Dimitri Nance continues to be bothered by a shoulder injury; so true freshman RB Cameron Marshall could be the feature back this week. USC has certainly looked vulnerable on defense in the last few weeks, but the Sun Devils lack the offensive explosion of Notre Dame, OSU, and Oregon.

I expect a very physical game, as both USC and ASU prefer to play that style. But by the second half, the Trojans should pull away en route to another November win.

Prediction: USC 30 – Arizona State 17

USC Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Ronald Johnson - RoJo caught a TD in each of the last two weeks, and I expect him to be heavily featured in the gameplan against ASU.

Arizona State Player to Keep an Eye On: CB Deveron Carr - The Arizona State coaches are reshuffling the Devils secondary after a disappointing outing vs. Cal, and Carr is likely to make his first career start this week.

Dave’s Take (42 – 12):

For a USC defense that has struggled immensely over the last three weeks, ASU’s manageable offense might be just what the doctor ordered. Since conference play has started, ASU has averaged 20.6 points per game. They will get their share of yards and points, but unlike the last three teams USC has played (with ND’s Jimmy Clausen, OSU’s Jacquizz Rodgers, and Oregon’s LaMichael James and Jeremiah Masoli), Arizona State doesn’t have any explosiveness in their backfield.

The biggest question mark in this game is simply how will USC react to having just been blown out? For a team that generally likes to have a lot of light-hearted fun during practice and preperation for games, a loss like this could throw things out of balance. If Pete Carroll tries to change too much too fast, it could really affect the team’s psyche. Will be interesting to see how they play this Saturday, especially in the first half.

For ASU, the message has been consistant all year; the defense can only do so much. They’ve been playing at a high level and giving the team a chance to win more often than not, but it just hasn’t been enough as the offense hasn’t been able to capitalize.

I expect similar in this one; ASU holds USC somewhere in the 28-35 range, but the offense continues to struggle.

Prediction: USC 28 – Arizona State 14