BCS News: #9 Arizona State Plays #11 USC on Thanksgiving

Atlanta, GA 11/19/2007 10:51 PM GMT (FINDITT)

#6 Arizona State hosts #11 USC on Thanksgiving Day in a game that can determine the Pacific 10 championship. Arizona State is currently atop the Pac 10 standings with a 6-1 conference record, while USC is tied for second with Oregon with a 5-2 record.

In the beginning of the season, the Trojans were expected to sweep through the conference. The Sun Devils were expected to be in the middle of the conference. However, after an upset loss to Stanford, the prestige and lofty expectations for USC began to die down. It continued when they lost to then-No. 5 Oregon.

Arizona State remained under the Pac-10 radar and undefeated until a 35-23 loss to Oregon. The Sun Devils can lock up a Rose Bowl berth by beating USC and Arizona, who just beat Oregon last week.

With Oregon's Dennis Dixon out for the season, these two teams are championed by the best quarterbacks in the conference. Arizona State's Rudy Carpenter bounced back from the loss at Oregon to defeat UCLA, 24-20. Carpenter completed 16-of-31 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown. He is 11th in the nation in passing efficiency.

USC's John David Booty was the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy coming into the season, but with such lofty expectations, he has been a disappointment. Booty missed three games and redshirt freshman Mark Sanchez stepped in.

In last week's 24-17 win against California, Chauncey Washington had a career-high 220 yards on 29 carries. The Trojans will look for him to produce, but it will be hard against the 16th best rush defense in the nation.

The Trojans’ defense will continue to be the anchor for the team. Linebacker Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga will look to contain running back Keegan Herring and sack Carpenter every chance they get.

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befound@finditt.com

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