Arizona State game will be USC’s biggest

By Marc Hudgens  |   Tuesday, July 22, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

USC Trojans
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Understandably, this season's Ohio State-USC matchup -- which will have strong BCS title implications -- has gotten plenty of publicity since college football schedules were first publicized.

Despite that, the Trojans' biggest game is the one against Arizona State. Why? It's the one which will dictate the Pac-10 pecking order, and that's why it's going to be the conference's marquee matchup in 2008.

In his first year reigning over the Sun Devils, head coach Dennis Erickson did what he has always done; namely, he made an immediate impact on a mediocre team, leading ASU to its first 10-win season since 1996. Not only that, but Erickson did so with a squad that had a poor offensive line, lost star running back Ryan Torain for the season and played a semi-injured quarterback in Rudy Carpenter.

Regardless of Erickson's accomplishments, Pete Carroll’s Trojans exposed and demolished ASU in Tempe last season, 44-24. Furthermore, the Sun Devils will be traveling to USC after going to Cal; before that, Arizona Sate will play national title contender Georgia. So the Sun Devils might be battered and bruised when they arrive at the Coliseum.

In spite of its weaknesses, though, it’s difficult not to imagine Arizona State remaining as good or even improving under Erickson this season.

What the Ohio State game is to the national picture for USC, the Arizona State contest is to the conference one for the Trojans. And in the BCS, it’s the conference success that dictates national success.
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About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He...
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