Oregon @ Arizona State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 14, 2009 ) Arizona State 21, Oregon 44

Oregon brings a lethal combination of a stifling defense and power rushing attack into its Pac-10 opener at Arizona State on Saturday night.

The No. 6 Ducks (3-0) have allowed just 13 points in three games, all of them in a 48-13 win at Tennessee. While that unit has been incredibly stingy the offense has rushed for an average of 380 yards.

Yes, the Ducks usually keep control of the ball for a long time.

That will be the dilemma for Dennis Erickson and the Sun Devils (2-1) in front of a partisan crowd at Sun Devil Stadium.

Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas has thrown for eight touchdowns in his team’s easy wins over New Mexico, Tennessee and Portland State. But the Oregon running game has been the biggest story thus far.

Six backs have scored touchdowns led by LaMichael James with 361 yards on 30 carries. James was suspended for off-field violations for the first game of the season but has flourished since his return. He rushed for over 1,500 yards last year and 14 touchdowns last year.

The Ducks were seen as national title contenders prior to the season started but some of that anticipation faded when quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was suspended and then transferred amidst controversy in the offseason.

But Oregon’s fast start highlighted by its rout of Tennessee has gotten the Ducks back into the national limelight. The Ducks return 17 starters from last year’s Rose Bowl team.

It will be tough to gauge the pulse of Arizona State after last week’s heart-breaking loss at Wisconsin. The Sun Devils trailed the Badgers by seven points late in the fourth quarter and scored what appeared to be the game-tying touchdown on a 2-yard run by Cameron Marshall. But Wisconsin blocked the extra point, sealing the 20-19 victory.

Deantre Lewis rushed for 122 yards on nine carries in the game against the rugged Wisconsin front four and quarterback Steven Threet completed 21-of-33 passes.

Threet has passed for 841 yards in his first three games with five touchdowns. Marshall leads the ground game with five touchdowns.

Oregon pounded Arizona State 44-21 last season and visits red-hot Stanford next week. The Sun Devils went 4-8 last year prompting Erickson to bring in Noel Mazzone as offensive coordinator. While the competition hasn’t been that tough, besides the Wisconsin game, Mazzone’s offense is averaging 38 points.

ASU enters the game healthy. Linebacker Brandon Magee is probable after injuring his knee. He is sixth on the team in tackles.

Oregon, however, has a host of injuries on the defensive side. The Ducks list linebackers Bryson Littlejohn, Spencer Paysinger and offensive lineman Darrion Weems as questionable. Paysinger is a fine player dealing with a nagging hamstring issue.

Tight end David Paulson, who has six catches, two of them for touchdowns, is probable with a pulled muscle.