TEMPE, AZ -- The Arizona State University Sun Devils return home from Georgia after suffering a 20-17 loss to the Bulldogs last weekend.
ASU will host the Oregon State Beavers in this year's Pac-10 Conference opener Saturday afternoon.
Oregon State stands 2-2, 0-1 in Pac-10 after losing to Arizona Wildcats in Corvallis last Saturday.
Although Arizona State suffered a loss to Georgia last week, the game held many highlights for Arizona State. It was the first game since 1997 that ASU played in the Eastern Time Zone.
Dimitri Nance rushed for 92 yards against the Bulldogs. Vontaze Burfict made 11 tackles leading ASU with 21 tackles in just the first three games of 2009. Jarrell Holman recovered a fumble, picked off two passes, and returned the first interception 47 yards for a touchdown. However, near the end of the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs made a 37-yard field goal for the win.
This week, the Sun Devils and Beavers face off.
Both are fairly familiar with each other. This will be the 35th time the Devils have played against the Beavers. The Devils lead the series 24-10-1. This will also be the eighth time the two teams have opened a Pac-10 conference play against each other.
Last season, Arizona State won the Pac-10 opener beating Stanford 41-17 in Tempe. However, they lost 27-25 to Oregon State last season.
Next week, on Oct. 10, ASU will be playing against Washington State in Pullman, Washington.
Keys of the Game:
Danny Sullivan must play better -- Sullivan was nowhere to be found against the Bulldogs last week. He went 10 for 32 with only 116 yards. If ASU wants to not only win this game, but also contend for a Pac-10 title they will have to see better play out of Sullivan
Improve play from the secondary -- The Sun Devil defense was supposed to be the strength of this team, but nobody told AJ Green that. The All-SEC wide receiver had eight receptions for 153 yards. This week Devils will have to deal with Oregon State’s James Rodgers who had eight receptions for 149 yards. He will have to be contained if the Devils are to have a chance.
Continue to run the ball -- Dimitri Nance ran the ball very effectively against a tough Georgia defense. With an effective running game the Sun Devils can have something they haven’t in a while. Offensive balance.
Be wary of the Rodger brothers -- Both are very fast and explosive. Jacquizz Rodgers is ranked third in rushing in the Pac-10, and brother James Rodgers leads the Pac-10 in receiving. The Sun Devil defense will have to stop the Rodgers brothers if they want to come out on top.
Kyle Williams -- The Sun Devils leading receiver has been dealing with a right hamstring injury the whole week. Coach Dennis Erickson talked about how severe the injury was, but if Williams can’t play it will be a major loss for the Sun Devil defense.
