Arizona State @ Southern California preview
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Nov 7, 2009 ) Southern California 14, Arizona State 9
Arizona State will need to come up with its second straight stellar defensive performance if the Sun Devils have any hope of beating Southern California and remaining in bowl contention.
Arizona State (4-4, 2-3 Pac-10) stills needs two victories to become bowl eligible and can take a big step in that direction by beating USC. The Sun Devils posted their first shutout since 2008 with last week’s 42-0 win over Washington State, but they haven’t beaten USC since 1999.
It will be very easy for coach Dennis Erickson’s defense to slip back into the unit that allowed 50 points against California or 42 against Oregon.
The Sun Devils can cling to the notion that it excels against the run, ranking second in the conference with only 110.2 yards allowed per game. Washington State managed only eight rushing yards last week. But USC (5-3, 2-3) was able to ring up 32 points last week against No. 1 Oregon and actually led in the second half before the Ducks went on a 24-0 run.
The Trojans have been quite effective on the ground, averaging 200.5 yards per game and 5.6 yards per carry. Allen Bradford (569 yards, 4 TDs) and Marc Tyler (507 yards, 8 TDs) lead the running USC game. But Bradford has been bothered by a sore ankle and carried just three times against Oregon.
USC will test the athletic Arizona State pass defense. Matt Barkley has thrown for 2,133 yards and 21 touchdowns. He spreads the ball around, although Ronald Johnson (43 catches, 8 TDs) and Robert Woods (39 catches, 6 TDs) are the established leaders.
Arizona State freshman Junior Onyeali, who has started the last three games, is a pure speed rusher who had three sacks and four tackles for loss a week ago. ASU linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who originally committed to USC, is another big hitter who has 59 tackles and 6.5 for loss.
The Sun Devils feature a talented ground game too, having run for 15 scores – more than it did the entire 2009 season. Deantre Lewis (461 yards, 4 TDs) and Cameron Marshall (429 yards, 7 TDs) are the team leaders. Quarterback Steve Threet has thrown for 2,144 yards and 14 touchdowns, but doesn’t pose a running threat. ASU hopes to take advantage of USC’s penchant for poor tackling.
But Arizona State may still be a year away. It has only 13 seniors on the roster and started only one senior last week: defensive tackle Saia Falahola.
ASU could get a pair of players back this week. Guard Jon Hargis, one of the team captains, played in the fourth quarter for the first time since ACL surgery in the spring, and cornerback Deveron Carr (shoulder) is close to a return. Defensive tackle Bo Moos (MCL) is expected to miss two games.
USC should have running back Dillon Baxter (toe) and C.J. Gable (knee) back at full strength this week. Wes Horton, a defensive back who had been out with a bad back, returned last week.
Southern California leads the series 16-9-1, including 8-4 at home, and hasn’t lost to Arizona State at the Los Angeles Coliseum since 1999.