TrojanWire - Arizona

What to watch in the Pac-10

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:06:32 -0800

With four teams still legitimately contending for the Pac-10 title, there are plenty of reasons to watch.

1. Will Foles bounce back after struggling at Cal? Arizona sophomore quarterback Nick Foles wasn't terrible at California last week, but he wasn't as good as he has been -- read: really good -- running the Wildcats offense since he took over the starting job, and his surprising decision to try to throw the ball a second time after a deflection was sort of, well, not smart. He admitted that the loss and his performance -- and that odd play -- stuck with him for a bit. So how does he respond against a fast, aggressive Oregon defense? Does he bounce back or does he again struggle?

2. Toby Gerhart vs. the Cal run defense. Since giving up over 400 yards rushing against Oregon and USC, Cal's run defense has been stout, holding both Oregon State and Arizona -- good rushing teams -- under 100 yards. But Stanford's rushing attack is a whole different challenge. There's no finesse. It's just a physical offensive line, a physical fullback and a physical Gerhart, who's trying to earn himself an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. If the Bears can't at least slow Gerhart, it could be a long afternoon.

3. Will Samson topple the pillars of UCLA bowl hopes? UCLA needs one more win to become bowl eligible, and a home game vs. Arizona State seems a better chance to pick up that win than a visit to an angry USC team coming off a bye week. The Sun Devils' quarterback situation is unclear, but it appears sophomore Samson Szakacsy is likely to make his first career start. The Sun Devils need to win their final two games to become bowl eligible. Will Szakacsy's mobility -- he will be as fast as anyone on the field -- add a wrinkle for a struggling ASU offense?

4. Does Washington State have any chance? The obvious conclusion is Washington State has no chance against Oregon State. The Cougars are bad and they are beaten up. But everyone knows that monumental upsets happen every year in college football. If the Beavers think they can just yawn their way through Pullman, they might get taught a lesson about playing one game at a time and taking every opponent seriously.

5. Will the Wildcats defense approximate the first half or the second half of 2008 vs. the Ducks? Oregon scored 45 points in the first half of last year's game with Arizona. And the Ducks scored only 10 points in the second half as the Wildcats came roaring back. The word in Tucson was the Wildcats came out unfocused and didn't do their assignments in the first half, but that changed for the better in the second half. The Arizona defense probably won't start slowly playing at home. Or will it?

6. Kevin Riley's big chance: The Cal quarterback has been mostly solid this year but he still doesn't have that breakthrough moment. The junior could create a lot of momentum for the Bears if he turned in a sharp afternoon in the Big Game against a hot Stanford squad. A win would bolster the Bears' bowl positioning and probably would get them back into the national rankings. It also would bode well for 2010.

7. UCLA's O-line vs. Arizona State's D-line: UCLA's offensive line, a huge question entering the season, has played well of late. But Washington and Washington State can make an O-line look good. Arizona State's D-line is as good as any in the Pac-10. The Sun Devils rank 21st in the nation against the run. The Bruins will seek balance and try not to put the entire weight of the offense on quarterback Kevin Prince. The Sun Devils will want to achieve the opposite.

8. Big numbers for Rodgers and Canfield: Assuming that Oregon State is going to pound Washington State early and often, a big question will be how long Beavers coach Mike Riley plays quarterback Sean Canfield and running back Jacquizz Rodgers. Both are candidates for All-Pac-10 honors and maybe more. The Cougars defense will offer a good chance to pad some stats. Not Riley's style exactly, but those postseason honors are valuable to programs.

The Skinny: It All Comes Down To The Running Game

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:56:16 -0800

Stanford comes into the Coliseum as a hot team with Rose Bowl aspirations. The Cardinal’s defeat of the 8th ranked Oregon Ducks 51-42 put the nation on notice that Stanford football can compete at the highest level and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh is one of the best young coaches in the game.

It was just two years ago that Harbaugh inherited a football program that was one of the worst in the country and used the biggest upset in college football history against USC (Stanford was a 42.5 point underdog) that year as a stepping stone to building a top 25 team.

The heart and soul of Stanford is Toby Gerhart, a 6’1, 235 pound physical powerhouse running back who is one of the best in the nation. He is one of the few backs in the country that can and will carry the ball over 30 times a game and beat defenders up. His mentality has crossed over to his teammates who thrive off playing a physical brand of football.

Another key to Stanford’s success is they play intelligently and usually will not beat themselves. The development of Redshirt Freshman Andrew Luck has been tremendous and gives Stanford the balance on offense that makes them dangerous anywhere on the field. In the past 3 games, Luck was 50-83 for 910 yards and 5 TD’s against only 1 interceptions and that included games against two top 25 teams (Oregon and Arizona) and against one of the best defenses in the conferences Arizona State.

The banged up Trojans will have to play far better than they have the past 6 quarters to leave the Coliseum with a victory. It is going to be tough as the offense will need to come to life without #1 wideout/punt returner Damian Williams (high ankle sprain) and Wide Receiver Ronald Johnson and Tight End Anthony McCoy not operating at 100%.

The Stanford defense is vulnerable to a balanced attack and the Trojans offense is not only going to have to generate at least 24 points of offense but also grind away at the game clock to rest the defense which will be involved in a very physical battle.

4 Keys to the Game:

Hold Gerhart to under 4 yards a carry: It is going to be difficult to completely shut down a back as physical as Toby Gerhart. The Trojans have to look to contain him and not allow him to frequently gain over 5 yards a carry. The Defensive Line will have to play very physical and win the line of scrimmage battle.

The shift of Defensive Lineman Devon Kennard to Linebacker could be a huge factor. Kennard looked great in practice this week and has the size and strength to handle a guy like Gerhart. He gives the undersized linebacking core a physical presence that is sorely needed in a game like this. USC coaches are very enthusiastic about Kennard's physical and mental attributes. He can be a “55” type linebacker. However, a lot is being asked of a freshman who has not played the position before.

More keys and injury updates after the jump

Damian Williams out, Anthony McCoy returning against Stanford

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:13:52 -0800

Wide receiver Williams, who suffered an ankle sprain against Arizona State, officially is ruled out of Saturday's game at the Coliseum.

Wide receiver Damian Williams is out. Tight end Anthony McCoy is in.

Who's going to win? Week 11 Pac-10 picks

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:13:48 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Went 4-1 last week -- if I could only pick Oregon games! -- and the season record stands at 43-15. And, as a few of you have generously noted, I'm on a bit of a run here -- 16-2 to be exact.

A couple of these games, however, gave me pause.

Stanford 33, USC 30: The Trojans have won 47 of 48 at home in the Coliseum, but the home loss that preceded that run and the defeat that interrupted its perfection both came vs. Stanford. That's just a quirky detail, though. What matters most is Stanford is hot, USC is not. And the Trojans are banged up. After seven years, there will be a new Pac-10 champion. Unless I'm wrong here. Which, you know, is possible.

Arizona 35, California 24: Bears will show some fight but, Arizona is rested and has been consistent on both sides of the ball throughout the season.

Oregon 40, Arizona State 17: The Sun Devils have issues on both sides of the ball -- a true freshman quarterback, a secondary thin on personnel -- and Oregon figures to be plenty motivated to right itself after the tough loss at Stanford. The Ducks defense, in particular, should be eager to bounce back.

Oregon State 41, Washington 24: The Beavers are surging, the Huskies are sagging. Sean Canfield and the Rodgers brothers should be in for a big day against the Washington defense.

UCLA 27, Washington State 14: It probably won't be pretty, but the Bruins will even their record at 5-5 and will set themselves up to become bowl eligible if they can beat either Arizona State at home or USC on the road over the final two games.

What to watch in the Pac-10

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:06:11 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

To paraphrase a great philosopher and renaissance man, Ric Flair, "This ain't no garden party, brother, this is the Pac-10, where only the strongest survive. Wooooooo!"

Folks, the screws are tightening.

1. Does USC's Pac-10 run end Saturday? It's fairly simple. If Stanford wins at USC, it's likely one of the great runs in the history of college football -- the Trojans' seven years atop the Pac-10 -- will come to an end. If the Trojans win, however, they head into a bye week when they can get healthy and rested and then fix their eyeballs on a conference race that remains within reach. Quick trivia question: How many Top-25 teams other than USC have played six of their last eight games on the road?

2. Will California be flat or inspired by Jahvid Best's absence? Arizona has a lot to play for at Cal. The Bears? Hard to say. It will be interesting to see which team shows up. The Bears have looked good at times this year. And very bad. Best, who suffered a concussion last weekend against Oregon State, was once a leading Heisman Trophy candidate. Now his season is likely over. Cal, which has clearly underperformed this fall, might come out yawning, a team just playing out the string. Or it might come out more focused than ever after learning how one unlucky moment could take the game away for good.

3. How will true ASU freshman QB Brock Osweiler respond to Autzen Stadium? Alright kid, go get 'em! What? Go get 'em! What? Osweiler will make his first career start in one of the nation's loudest and toughest venues against an extremely fast defense that was humbled last weekend at Stanford and will be plenty motivated for redemption. Osweiler, by the way, won't have Toby Gerhart or the Cardinal's smart, physical offensive line to help either. Good luck, though. What? The Pac-10 blog said good luck! What?

4. Sean Canfield vs. the Washington secondary: Canfield has been playing as well as any quarterback in the conference of late -- and that's saying something because a lot of quarterbacks are playing well. The Huskies' secondary has struggled throughout the season. It ranks ninth in the conference and 110th in the nation in pass efficiency defense. The idea of Canfield and his quick release dumping the ball to either of the Rodgers brothers in space has to keep Huskies defensive coordinator Nick Holt up at night. His secondary just doesn't have the speed to match up.

5. Might Pullman put a chill in UCLA? Good news for UCLA: It doesn't appear the Bruins will encounter a real mid-November day in Pullman. Reports say it may snow on Friday but it will be partly cloudy and pleasant -- mid-30s -- on Saturday. If the Cougars are to pull the upset, they need all the help they can get, and snow and cold might be a boon against the visitors from sunny southern California. Of course, the weather is often unpredictable. Maybe that snow will start Friday and keep coming?

6. Luck & Gerhart challenge the USC D: After piling up 505 yards against an Oregon defense that mostly shut down USC, Stanford will face those Trojans with a physical, balanced offense that can attack a defense by land (Gerhart) or by air (Andrew Luck). Whether the blame falls on youth or injuries, USC's defense has not been itself since the fourth quarter of the Notre Dame game on Oct. 17. Considering Stanford has scored 84 points the past two games against two of the nation's better defenses, this could be a humbling afternoon for the Trojans. Or it could be a turning point.

7. Will Nick Foles pick apart the Cal secondary? Before the season, Arizona had questions at quarterback, and California, with four starters returning, had one of the best secondaries in the nation. Now, the Wildcats have Foles, a sophomore who is completing 71.4 percent of his passes, and the Bears rank 93rd in the nation in pass efficiency defense. Go figure. Foles' quick release -- the Wildcats have surrendered only four sacks all season -- and accuracy will stress the Bears.

8. Jake Locker is due a big performance: Locker has been spectacular for Washington at times this year. Not so great at others. He's banged up. And his team has lost five of six. But there are reasons Pac-10 coaches fear Locker and the NFL covets him -- he's a great talent with superior playmaking ability. Washington can't win if he doesn't play well. It sometimes can't even if he does. But if he puts together a special game, the Huskies could pull the upset.

9. Oregon's O vs. Arizona State's D: The Sun Devils are suddenly hurting in the secondary, but they have been consistently tough on defense all season, particularly against the run where they rank sixth in the nation (87.4 yards per game). Oregon, of course, is one of the nation's best running teams (233.56 yards per game). It will be interesting to see who blinks in this strength-on-strength battle, or if the Ducks just try to attack through the air, sensing that's where Arizona State will be most vulnerable.

10. Will Matt Barkley's slide end vs. Stanford's defense? A few weeks ago, Barkley was running the USC offense with aplomb and was the toast of college football. But his last six quarters -- the second half at Oregon plus the visit to Arizona State -- haven't been sharp. It doesn't help that his two favorite targets, tight end Anthony McCoy and receiver Damian Williams, may not be available Saturday. But he's coming home, which should help, and it's hard to believe that he won't be eager to prove that his recent slump was just a momentary blip on his path toward becoming a superstar quarterback.

Will Harris Named Pac-10 Defensive Player Of Week

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:04:01 -0800

USC safety Will Harris was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in USC's win at Arizona State.

Beginning of the end

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:58:14 -0800

It's finish time -- the fourth quarter of the 2009 season has officially started.

The USC football office is stirring this morning as coaches continue breaking down Arizona State game film with one eye on the past and one on the future, namely the Stanford game at the Coliseum that's suddenly just five days away.

The journey that is the season travels on with excitement toward its conclusion, with much still to be discovered and trails yet to be blazed.

The Skinny: At Least This Year, The Trojans Are Running With The Pac

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:14:12 -0800

For the first time since the middle of the 2002 season, the separation (at least this year) between USC and the Pac-10 is not evident. The Trojans 14-9 victory over Arizona Sate was a clear indication that USC looks like any other solid Pac-10 team and they are fortunate to finish with 3 straight home games.

The Trojans will need to play well in all phases to successfully defend the Coliseum turf against 3 tough opponents (Stanford and Arizona are ranked and in the Rose Bowl race and you have the crosstown rivalry with UCLA). If they are able to win the final three, another trip to Pasadena is still very much alive. If they struggle, a match-up with Oklahoma in the Sun Bowl is easily be in the cards.

The Pac-10 is extremely strong this year and any 1 of 5 teams would represent the conference very well against a top 15 team on a neutral field. This type of quality is why a team with two losses in conference could play in the Rose Bowl.

Notes and Analysis for the Water Cooler and IM Chats:

Barkley in a slump: Matt Barkley was 7-22 for 122 yards against Arizona State. If you take away the short pass to Damian Williams that was turned into a 75 yard touchdown, Barkley was 6-21 for 37 yards. In the second half against Oregon, he was 5-16 for 49 yards. Did Raider quarterback Jamarcus Russell take over for the Trojans?
Hopefully the offensive coaches are doing some self scouting to help Barkley make adjustments to his tendencies. Opposing defensive coaches have enough film on Barkley to truly dissect his game and it is showing. Arizona State has a great defense but his throwing numbers were awful considering Cal QB Kevin Riley threw for 351 yards the week before.

*More Barkley, offensive line, Williams injury after the jump

11-7-09: Washington St, Oregon St, USC

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:19:34 -0800

Hanging with a bunch of Cal grads at a bachelor party this weekend. Go Beavers. Sign up with BetUS... they've got our game.

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Washington St (+33) over Arizona

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Oregon St (+7) over Cal

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USC (-11.5) over Arizona St

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Washington St (+33) over Arizona
Oregon St (+7) over Cal
USC (-11.5) over Arizona St

The Skinny: We Will Learn A lot About The Trojans Psyche In Tempe

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:08:33 -0800

The Trojan football program is venturing down a road it has avoided for a very long time. Since 2002, USC has always followed up a loss with a string of victories to continue the Trojans unmatched success for the past seven years. However, USC has not suffered a loss of this magnitude in the Pete Carroll era. The 47-20 loss to Oregon was the first time the mighty Trojans got severely outplayed and out-coached in all phases of the game.

In the past, one could review the game and say the Trojans were just unlucky or if they played with a little more discipline they would have won. Not this time. If anything, the amount of injuries the Trojans suffered on the defensive side of the ball is a clear indication of how manhandled they were by the Oregon offense.

Saturday's game against Arizona State will provide great insight into the psyche of both the coaching staff and the players. Was the Oregon game just a set of unfortunate circumstances they can easily put behind them and continue Pete Carroll's perfect November record and put themselves in contention for a BCS bowl game? Will the Trojans fight though injury issues like they have in years past and put together a great performance or will the shaken confidence of a defense that has given up over 1500 yards of offense in 3 games lead to a debacle in Tempe?

Arizona State is not going to make it easy on the Trojans. They are led by the best defense in the Pac-10 and are fighting for Head Coach Dennis Erickson's job. This is also the second of back-to-back road games for the Trojans which are always tough.

However, this is a game the Trojans should win and be able to gain some confidence and swagger back on the defensive side of the ball. ASU has one of the worst offenses in the Pac-10 and doesn't possess a game-breaker close to the ability of Jacquizz Rogers, James Rogers or LaMichael James.

Keys to the game...

1-Trojans need to pass to set up the run: Cal Quarterback Kevin Riley threw for 351 yards last week in a narrow 23-21 victory over ASU. ASU does a great job of applying pressure and making it difficult to run with one of the best run defense's in the country. The Trojans should come out throwing the ball to send an early message to ASU's secondary which is susceptible to mid-range throws.

Once ASU's defense is worried about the pass, the Trojans should have success running the ball with McKnight and especially Bradford provided his knee is okay. Bradford fits the mold of Stanford tailback Toby Gerhart who ran for 125 yards against ASU.

More keys after the jump plus an injury update...

Losses eat at stoic Barkley

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:39:24 -0800

USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley hates losing and doesn't plan on doing it again at Arizona State.

The Sark Virus Vaccine

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:25:19 -0800

Bumped...P

The Sark Virus

Dictionary: vac·cine (văk-sēn', văk'sēn'), n. A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen, such as a bacterium or virus, or of a portion of the pathogen's structure that upon administration stimulates antibody production or cellular immunity against the pathogen but is incapable of causing severe infection.

Paragon commented below on Chip Kelly's visits with Jon Gruden and their likely collaboration on a scheme to defeat USC's Tampa 2 defense. While there is little doubt that Kelly learned much from Gruden, in football there is no substitute for practice followed by live experience and further practice to help you perfect your scheme. A perfect scheme can give a team "immunity" against an adversary.

When Steve Sarkisian and Nick Holt moved to the University of Washington they installed offensive and defensive systems virtually identical those at USC. Sark and Holt were able to create a scheme to defeat USC on Sept. 19th thanks to their intimate knowledge of every phase of USC's playbook. That game produced a wealth of information for all of USC's future opponents, but in addition a total of 6 of USC's adversaries have or will have had the opportunity to practice against USC by playing a "weakened pathogen" or vaccine known as the Sark Virus of Washington.The Sark Virus vaccine contains attenuated USC offensive and defensive structures (or antigens) that can produce strong or even absolute immunity against USC infection.

If only the CDC could be this efficient

The following table shows that Stanford, Notre Dame, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, and UCLA all get Sark Virus immunization this year before playing USC:

9/25/09	Washington at Stanford
10/03/09	Washington at Notre Dame
10/10/09	Arizona at Washington
10/17/09	Washington at Arizona State	USC at Notre Dame
10/24/09	Oregon at Washington*
10/31/09		USC at Oregon
11/07/09	Washington at UCLA	USC at Arizona State
11/14/09		Stanford at USC
11/28/09		UCLA at USC
12/05/09		Arizona at USC

*Oregon was vaccinated exactly one week before facing USC

Predictable Results?

The Oregon and Washington debacles show the extreme value of a perfectly crafted gameplan and live experience. In retrospect, this makes USC's victory at Notre Dame seem a little bit more remarkable.

Everyone has heard of "scheduling for success," but this years schedule, front loaded with tough road games and with opponents that are fully informed and extensively practiced against USC's methods is a schedule for misery. Difficult times may lay ahead against ASU, Stanford, Arizona and perhaps even lowly UCLA unless USC's coaches are able to develop new weapons or "antigens" that will defeat fully developed "antibodies."

Pac-10 power rankings: Week 10

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:57:11 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

No changes this week, which may be a first this season.

1. Oregon: The Ducks left no doubt against USC. None. Zero. Now, can they maintain the focus that got them here -- the Pac-10 title within sight -- or will they start to do most-muscular poses in their bathroom mirror? Because if they start to get impressed with themselves, a physical Stanford squad will give them a whipping Saturday.

2. USC: Hello, police? Yes, this is the Pac-10 blog. Yeah, thanks. Every day! Cool. No, I'm not the greatest. Not always. No, Washington beating Oregon was not a great pick. Look, I'm calling to report a missing team. Yeah, the Trojans. I know! I knowwww! Well, if you see them, please get them tell them to call the Pac-10 blog. We're worried about them. There's a rumor they'll be in Tempe on Saturday, but we're not sure who will show up.

3. Arizona: Every team has at least two conference defeats. Except Oregon, which has none. And Arizona, which has one. That means that if the Wildcats can hold serve, they could steal the crown from the Ducks on Nov. 21 in Tucson. Of course, they'd also need to get a win in the season-finale at USC.

4. Oregon State: The Beavers held on against UCLA. Now, can they win at California? If so, they likely return to the national rankings and put themselves in good position for a nice bowl game.

5. California: The Bears have returned to the national rankings, but they won't officially move past their dreadful efforts vs. Oregon and USC until they beat top-half-of-the-Pac-10 teams. See above.

6. Stanford: The Cardinal sat at home this past weekend and watched their next two opponents play: Oregon and USC. Know this: Coach Jim Harbaugh and his players aren't afraid. They don't see an unstoppable offense coming to town this weekend. They see an opportunity.

7. Arizona State: The Sun Devils are fighting and clawing, but their bowl chances are dwindling. Of course, if they keep fighting and clawing, they might catch a flat USC team off its guard and reverse the trajectory of their season.

8. Washington: The Huskies are coming off a bye weekend knowing they have to win three of their final four games to become bowl eligible. While technically a visit to UCLA is not a must-win, know that it is. As it is for UCLA. In other words, one of these two teams will walk away with hope. The other, probably not.

9. UCLA: Losing five games in a row is a horrible way to start conference play. Fact is, though, the Bruins lost to five teams that are better than them. That's debatable about the next three foes, starting with the Huskies. If the Bruins hold together and win this weekend, their bowl hopes suddenly become better than decent.

10. Washington State: Notre Dame flicked the Cougars aside in San Antonio. And it only gets worse. Now the Cougs head to Tucson to play a rested and likely healthier Arizona squad that figures to be hungry. The challenge for coach Paul Wulff is to keep his team focused on getting better when it doesn't look like it can do much to improve the positive side of the win-loss ledger.

What to watch in the Pac-10

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:08:23 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

The big one is in Eugene but every game matters. Three teams are chilling at home.

1. Matt Barkley thinks Autzen Stadium is going to be a barrel of monkeys: Matt Barkley told the LA Times that he's looks forward to playing in Autzen Stadium -- "the energy is going to be awesome and it's going to be a cool atmosphere, especially on Halloween night," he said. Hmm. You know, maybe all this talk about how intimidating and loud Autzen Stadium is a bollocks. This whole, really cool "blackout" thing is just a rumor, after all. Hey, wear yellow! That will be scary. Oregon fans aren't really loud. They're very nice, actually. Cuddly even.

2. Were Arizona State's defensive numbers a mirage? Last weekend, Stanford piled up 473 yards -- 237 yards rushing -- against the Sun Devils, who entered the game ranked seventh in the nation in total defense (248 yards per game) and second vs. the run (58 yards per game). It's fair to ask if the Sun Devils' previously impressive defensive numbers were a function of the middling-to-poor offenses they faced during the early going. They can answer that question by shutting down -- or at least slowing down -- California and running back Jahvid Best.

3. Oregon State can't afford a "USC hangover:" The Beavers have a right to be disappointed with their close-but-no-cigar effort at USC last weekend. But if they spend too much time wondering what might have been, the Bruins might steal one in Reser Stadium. UCLA has enough athletes that, despite a 0-4 Pac-10 mark, it remains dangerous.

4. Washington State may shock the world: It's entirely possible that Notre Dame is going to run over the Cougars like a Mack truck rumbling through a garden party. And yet upsets -- even big ones -- happen all the time in college football. All it's going to take for the Cougars is a combination of their best effort and a team, such as the Fighting Irish, taking a victory for granted. At some point this season, that could happen, and it might as well be against a Notre Dame crew that has endured a series of emotional games and may be due for a letdown.

5. Who wins the trenches in Autzen? In terms of pure talent, Oregon doesn't match up on either line vs. USC. The Trojans' offensive line is athletic and experienced. It should be able to handle the Ducks' speedy D-front. The Trojans' defensive line isn't experienced, but neither is the Ducks' O-line. And the Trojans' front seven, despite its youth, has been dominant against the run and has been able to pressure opposing quarterbacks with just four pass-rushers. The Ducks have surrendered only 11 sacks this year. USC leads the nation with 29 sacks. This is one area where USC has a decided advantage. Or appears to.

6. Riley must be sharp in Tempe: Arizona State is going to gang up against Cal's run game, and the Sun Devils have enough talent and speed to make things hard on Best and the Bears' offensive line. That means, however, that there are going to be opportunities in the passing game. Can Cal QB Kevin Riley take advantage? He's been hot and cold much of the season. This would be a good time for some consistent execution. Of course, ASU ranks third in the nation with 13 interceptions.

7. Bruins try a two-quarterback system: It seems there's a split between UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel and his offensive coordinator, Norm Chow. Chow doesn't like to play two quarterbacks and he thinks Kevin Prince is the man. Neuheisel doesn't necessarily have a problem with Prince but the Bruins' offense is struggling and he wants to get a look at Richard Brehaut. So both will play at Oregon State. Who plays better? Or do both play badly? And what does it mean for the future? And are Neuheisel and Chow at loggerheads? We shall see.

8. Jeremiah Masoli must attack the USC secondary: No one has consistently run well against USC. The Trojans, however, have of late been fairly vulnerable against the pass. That may be due to playing against a couple of good quarterbacks in Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen and Oregon State's Sean Canfield. Or maybe there are some things that a balanced offense can take advantage of. Ducks QB Jeremiah Masoli isn't chopped liver, and he's thrown well over his past three starts (he missed the UCLA game with a sprained knee). He will need to make plays downfield in order to keep the Trojans defense honest.

10-24-09: Miami, Stanford, and USC

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:11:27 -0800

Straight Bet $25 to win $22.73
Miami (-5) over Clemson

Straight Bet $25 to win $150
Stanford (-7.5) over Arizona St

Straight Bet $25 to win $22.73
USC (-20.5) over Oregon St

Three Team Parlay $25 to win $150
Miami (-5) over Clemson
Stanford (-7.5) over Arizona St
USC (-20.5) over Oregon St

Dr. Bob thinks USC should put up 40 points and is a good bet ATS. Analysis after the jump.