SB Nation Arizona - ASU Misses Big Field Goal, Falls To USC, 34-33https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2010-11-07T02:21:27-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/15570002010-11-07T02:21:27-07:002010-11-07T02:21:27-07:00USC Defeats ASU In Wild, Crazy Game
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<p>Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38261/joe-houston">Joe Houston</a>’s 29-yard field goal with just over three minutes remaining proved to be the difference as the <span class="caps">USC</span> Trojans slipped by the Arizona State Sun Devils, 34-33, in Pac-10 action at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78123/matt-barkley">Matt Barkley</a> converted 26-of-37 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns for the Trojans (6-3, 3-3 Pac-10) as they won for the second time in the last three outings. However, Barkley made things tough on himself and the Trojans as he suffered two interceptions and was sacked four times.</p>
<p>The Sun Devils (4-5, 2-4), losers of two of their last three, were led by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/22657/steven-threet">Steven Threet</a> who converted 24-of-40 passes for 228 yards and three scores, but like Barkley he too was picked off two times and taken down for four sacks.</p>
<p>The only scoring of the first quarter came courtesy of Threet who drove <span class="caps">ASU</span> 72 yards in just four plays, capped by a 10-yard TD pass to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35231/gerell-robinson">Gerell Robinson</a>.</p>
<p>Barkley responded by tossing touchdown passes of 15 and two yards to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/9548/marc-tyler">Marc Tyler</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/9527/david-ausberry">David Ausberry</a>, respectively, to make the score 14-7 in favor of the hosts heading into the break.</p>
<p>In the third quarter USC’s Malcolm Smith intercepted a pass and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown to lift the Trojans to a commanding 22-7 advantage after the squad succeeded on a two-point conversion.</p>
<p>Threet and Robinson matched up again midway through the third frame, this time on a 21-yard effort, but less than three minutes later Barkley again rebounded for the Trojans with a 22-yard TD pass to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/9554/stanley-havili">Stanley Havili</a> to make the score 29-14.</p>
<p>The ensuing kickoff saw <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77499/lequan-lewis">LeQuan Lewis</a> race the length of the field, 100 yards, to draw the Sun Devils back to within eight points at 29-21.</p>
<p>ASU’s defense stepped up and pressured Barkley as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8951/omar-bolden">Omar Bolden</a> picked off a pass and brought it back 66 yards for the score, but in an attempt to tie the game at 29-29 the Sun Devils tried and failed on a two-point conversion, leaving them with a two-point deficit at 29-27.</p>
<p>With 6:59 remaining in the fourth, Threet hooked up with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77508/jamal-miles">Jamal Miles</a> on a nine-yard TD pass, but for whatever reason the Sun Devils opted to try for the <span class="caps">PAT</span> instead of going for another two-point conversion. The kicked ended up being blocked and returned the other way by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78121/torin-harris">Torin Harris</a> for two points, which meant the Trojans were still within striking distance at 33-31.</p>
<p>Houston’s successful field goal made up for his two misses early in the contest.</p>
<p><span class="caps">USC</span> managed to control the ball for almost 37 minutes, despite converting just 4-of-15 on third down.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-st-sun-devils/2010/11/7/1798928/usc-defeats-asu-in-wild-crazy-gameCory Williams2010-11-06T10:56:15-07:002010-11-06T10:56:15-07:00ASU vs. USC: What The Blogs Are Saying
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<p>Here at SBNation, we have a wealth of quality blogs that write about the daily struggles and achievements of both professional and collegiate sports programs. Today, we take a look at what our USC and ASU blogs are saying about tonight's matchup between the Trojans and the Sun Devils.</p>
<p>First off, we take a look at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.conquestchronicles.com">Conquest Chronicles</a>. They listed five reasons as to why USC will win tonight, and one of them is this:</p>
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<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">ASU's offense is one dimensional. </b>The Sun Devils have a great passing offense that must be supported by an efficient running game to keep pressure off the quarterback. Individually on the season their two leading rushers, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112762/deantre-lewis" class="sbn-auto-link" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #990000; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Deantre Lewis</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77506/cameron-marshall" class="sbn-auto-link" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #990000; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Cameron Marshall</a>, average 6.5 and 4.8 per rush respectively. But they are inconsistent, putting up double digit per rush averages in some games while being held to paltry numbers in others. On Saturday, they are matched against the better half of the USC defense, it's run defense. That run defense got blasted last week, giving up more than 200 yards to Oregon's LaMichael James. But what is lost in those numbers is that the Trojan defense held James' to under four yards on half of his 36 rushes. </span></p>
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<p>While <a target="_blank" href="http://www.houseofsparky.com">House Of Sparky</a> can't think of five good reasons that the Sun Devils will win, the recruiting advantage from a possible victory is hard to ignore:</p>
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<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Long story short, ASU already does pretty well recruiting in the Los Angeles area, and a win on the road would further raise awareness of the school and the opportunities available to high school talent. Truth be told, if you're an excellent player, chances are you'll be playing a meaningful role almost immediately, just like Deantre Lewis has this season and Vontaze Burfict did in 2009.</span></p>
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<p>Both teams are fighting for a bowl berth - if USC wins tonight, they will be eligible, and if ASU pulls of the road upset, they will be two wins away from clinching a postseason bowl berth. The schedule doesn't get any easier from here, so the Sun Devils will need to step up their game tonight.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-st-sun-devils/2010/11/6/1797856/asu-usc-game-college-football-blogsCory Williams2010-11-03T20:39:32-07:002010-11-03T20:39:32-07:00USC Welcomes ASU To Los Angeles, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. AZT
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<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Sports Network: FACTS & STATS: Site: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (92,000) -- Los Angeles, California. Television:FSN-RM. Home Record: ASU 3-1, USC 2-2. Away Record: ASU 1-3, USC 3-1. Neutral Record: ASU 0-0, USC 0-0. Conference Record: ASU 2-3, USC 2-3. Series Record: USC leads, 17-9.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">GAME NOTES: The USC Trojans conclude a three-game homestand this weekend, as they entertain the Arizona State Sun Devils in Pac-10 action at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Trojans limp into their finale of the homestand, as they have dropped three of their past four outings overall. Two of those losses have come at home, including a 53-32 defeat to top-ranked Oregon this past weekend. USC is now under .500 in Pac-10 play, as the program is clearly on the decline.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">ASU meanwhile, got back into the win column with a 42-0 blanking of Washington State over the weekend. It was the team's first shutout since a 31-0 triumph of Washington State in 2008, as the Sun Devils rebounded nicely from a 50-17 whipping at California the prior week.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">As for the all-time series, USC holds a 17-9 lead over ASU and the Trojans have won each of the past 10 meetings, including a 14-9 decision last season.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">QB Steven Threet threw for 300 yards and three TDs, as the Sun Devils rolled past WSU over the weekend. Street completed 26-of-32 tosses and had no picks, which was surprising considering he had thrown 13 heading into the game. The ground game chipped in with 118 yards and three more TDs against WSU, and ASU has had some success running the ball, averaging 139.0 ypg for the season. Deantre Lewis leads the way with 461 yards, while Cameron Marshall adds 429 yards and a team-high seven TDs. Both players scored last weekend and the duo combined for 83 yards on 18 carries. Marshall also tallied his first receiving TD in the victory.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">ASU's defense turned in a big performance after being gashed by Cal, as the unit kept WSU to just 264 total yards in a shutout effort. The Sun Devils surrendered just eight rushing yards, while recording five sacks and three takeaways. It was clearly a big effort from a defense that had just eight takeaways and nine sacks to its credit through the first seven outings. Junior Onyeali had three of the team's sacks and a pair of forced fumbles last weekend, while Vontaze Burfict logged five stops and a forced fumble. Burfict has clearly been the team's best tackler on the season, as his 59 stops are 24 more than the next closest player on the roster.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Trojans were able to move the ball, gaining 377 total yards, but just weren't able to keep up with Oregon in a 53-32 loss last weekend. Three turnovers from QB Matt Barkley didn't help matters either, though he did throw for 264 yards and a TD. Barkley has been better then he showed last weekend and on the season he has completed 63.1 percent of his pass attempts, with 21 TDs against just six INTs. Ronald Johnson has been his primary target with 43 catches for 529 yards and eight TDs, while Robert Woods has also been effective with 574 receiving yards and six scores. Last weekend, the duo totaled 11 receptions for 124 yards and a score. As for the ground attack, USC is churning out a healthy 200.5 ypg behind a 5.6 yard per carry average. Allen Bradford is averaging 7.5 yards per carry for a team-best 596 rushing yards, while Marc Tyler adds 507 yards and a club-best eight TDs.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">USC has had some issues on defense this season and the unit offered little resistance against Oregon's powerful attack last weekend. Oregon dialed up 599 yards of total offense and scored seven TDs. USC was gashed for 311 yards on the ground and the defense is now surrendering 151.4 rushing ypg. The pass defense has been even worse, as the Trojans are giving up 275.8 ypg. T.J. McDonald has done all that he can to give the defense a shot and he has 55 stops and a team-high three INTs on the year.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Trojans have struggled with consistency, but they are still the better of the two teams here. Expect them to put some points on the scoreboard and continue their dominance of the Sun Devils.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Sports Network Predicted Outcome: USC 40, Arizona State 20</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Saturday, November 6th, 10:30 p.m. (et).</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2010/11/3/2323690/usc-welcomes-asu-to-los-angeles-saturday-7-30-p-m-aztCory Williams