Oregon Football: Ducks' Dynamic RB Duo Will Be Too Much for Arizona State

Sorry Sun Devils, but you've got no chance.

You might have the 12th-best scoring defense in the nation, allowing only 13.6 points per game, but you're in for a long game in two weeks when the No. 2 team in the land, the undefeated Oregon Ducks, walk into Sun Devil Stadium on October 18.

Oregon, who has put up at least 42 points in each of its first six games—the Ducks' 52.33 points per game average ranks fourth in the country—will simply be too much for you to handle.

How can I be so sure?

Because of the two men who stand five yards behind the line of scrimmage: senior Kenjon Barner and sophomore De'Anthony Thomas.

While he was kept out of the end zone against Washington this past weekend, Barner still ran for 122 yards on 20 carries. He's averaging an impressive 6.3 yards per carry on the season, rushing for 727 yards and nine touchdowns on 116 carries—in six games.

His backfield mate Thomas is averaging an even more impressive 9.2 yards per carry on the season and has 377 yards and six touchdowns on only 41 carries.

That's 157 carries, 1,104 yards and 15 touchdowns combined.

Arizona State's defense ranks 51st against the run nationally, allowing 139.2 yards per game on the ground, and they've only allowed opposing running backs to find their way into the end zone five times.

Those numbers are sure to go up when they take on the Ducks.

Let's suppose, for a moment, that the Sun Devils are able to contain the Barner and Thomas, keeping them out of the end zone and unable to break off big runs.

The amount of attention they command from the defense will open up the passing game.

Freshman QB Marcus Mariota has led the Ducks to the 56th best passing attack in the nation, completing nearly 68 percent of his passes to go along with 1,301 yards and 15 touchdowns through the air.

Oregon's offense simply has too many weapons for Arizona State to account for—and it all starts with Barner and Thomas.