Hello, Sun Devil faithful. Tonight should be a very difficult matchup for ASU (4-5, 2-4 Pac-10), taking on the high-powered Oregon Ducks (7-2, 5-1 Pac-10) in Eugene.
On a good note, true freshman QB Brock Osweiler will make his first career start under center for the Sun Devils, ending Danny Sullivan's reign of terror in Tempe.
Coach Dennis Erickson inserted Osweiler into the lineup at halftime of last week's 14-9 loss to USC, and Osweiler put up respectable numbers given the situation. His line: 11/27, 153 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. He also scrambled six times, picking up 14 yards (including two important first downs). His playmaking ability far surpasses that of Sullivan's.
Cameron Marshall, another true freshman, earned the majority of carries last week, rushing 16 times while picking up 42 yards.
Oregon is coming off a tough 51-42 loss to the red-hot Stanford Cardinal, who have now officially entered the race for the Pac-10 title with their impressive win over USC this afternoon.
The following day after that tough loss, Oregon coach Chip Kelly petitioned the Pac-10 to reinstate senior RB LeGarrette Blount, who is most famous for punching a Boise State player in the face following their only other loss of the season.
Blount may not play too much tonight, but his presence could be a distraction to Oregon's mission of running the ball aggressively against the stout ASU defense. One can only hope that the Devils can put a stop to the Ducks offense and put the ball into the hands of Osweiler as much as possible.
Lets hope for a miracle, Devil fans!