Arizona State @ California preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 31, 2009 ) California 23, Arizona State 21

They have identical records, but Arizona State enters Saturday’s clash at California feeling much better about its prospects for the season’s second half.

Both teams are 3-3 overall, 1-2 in the Pac-10.

The Sun Devils are coming off a bye that followed a significant 24-14 win at Washington. The Golden Bears were humiliated Saturday by Southern Cal. They trailed 42-0 at halftime en route to a 48-14 loss.

Arizona State brings a no-huddle, spread attack that ranks 15th nationally in passing (299 yards per game), but has struggled in the red zone.

Junior Steven Threet, the Michigan transfer, has thrown for 1,719 yards and 11 touchdowns, but he also has been intercepted 11 times. Running back Deantre Lewis is averaging a whopping 7.4 yards per carry.

The Sun Devils could feast on a Cal defense that allowed 602 total yards in the loss to the Trojans.

Arizona State has been decent against the run, allowing 122.7 yards per game. The Sun Devils will try to contain Cal junior Shane Vereen, who has run for 630 yards and eight touchdowns on 111 carries.

Vereen’s streak of three 100-yard games was halted by the Trojans. He had his “bell rung” and did not play much in the second half, according to coach Jeff Tedford, but is expected to play Saturday. Vereen caught three passes against USC, and he has caught at least one in each of his 32 college games.

With quarterback Kevin Riley still struggling — he hit 3 of 12 throws with two interceptions in the first half last week — the Bears need Vereen to bounce back in a big way. Cal ranks 81st nationally in passing offense (192.2 yards per game).

To earn its first bowl invite in three seasons, Arizona State must win four of its final six. The Sun Devils are fully capable of doing it. They nearly won at Wisconsin and led Oregon by 10 in the first half.

A strong finish also would lessen the heat on coach Dennis Erickson, whose teams are 14-21 since an 8-0 start in 2007.

The Sun Devils have hurt themselves with turnovers. They rank 116th nationally in turnover margin at minus-7. California is plus-4 in that category and likely will need to win the turnover battle to get a victory Saturday.

Cal, which is 3-0 at home this year, leads the all-time series with Arizona State 15-14 and has won six of the last seven meetings, including last season’s 23-21 comeback win in Tempe, Ariz.