Oregon State-Arizona State: Beavers Homecoming Takes on Double Meaning

Oregon State has won four out of their last five and currently has had two weeks to get healthy and prepare for the arrival of the Arizona State Sun Devils.

With the success both teams had last year, this game seemed as if it would warrant great attention. Unfortunately for the pitchforked faithful, the slow 2-5 (1-3) start Arizona State has put up has Devil fans scratching their heads and searching for excuses.

Two teams headed in entirely different directions do, however, share one similarity:  Coach Dennis Erickson.

Erickson left the University of Idaho for sunny Tempe, Arizona two years back.  Erickson had left Oregon State four years prior to that after leading OSU to a win in the Fiesta Bowl and a number four national ranking in 2000.

Erickson finished 23-12 in his three-year stint and led the Beavers to their first winning season in 28 years in 1999.

Erickson returned to "the house he helped build" just two years ago when he was head man at Idaho.  The Vandals said goodbye to OSU early in the first quarter (OSU won 38-0) and goodbye to Coach Erickson after the season.

Now Dennis returns to Reser Stadium, but with a considerably better squad than his 2006 Vandals.

Arizona State looked to turn its season around last week when Oregon traveled to the desert for a Pac-10 night matchup.  Instead, ASU looked like the '06 Vandal squad from Erickson's past, giving up over 500 yards of offense (304 on the ground) and losing 54-20.

The success Oregon had against the ASU defense doesn't seem to have Coach Riley as excited as one would think.  Coach has mentioned all week how dangerous this Sun Devil team is and that OSU will not be taking them lightly.

Riley has referenced the Stanford game as a prime example of what happens if you aren't prepared.

With losing comes complaining, and Devil fans have been harsh on senior QB Rudy Carpenter. Carpenter was—in preseason publications—thought to be the best QB in the conference entering the season. 

Although he has over 1,600 yards passing, he has only nine touchdowns to seven interceptions.

Many around the ASU organization quickly point out the lack of protection up front from the offensive line as the major reason for the team's struggles.

Oregon State will look to take advantage of an inexperienced offensive line and pressure Carpenter.  Last year OSU jumped to an early 19-0 lead, only to have Rudy put on his superman cape and triumphantly bring the Devils back in a 44-32 victory with scoring strikes of seven, 43, 48, and 64 yards.

The Beavs have had an extra week to rest and prepare and have installed new wrinkles to the offense to quickly get the ball in the hands of their playmakers.

CB-Brandon Hughes, S-Al Afalava, and CB-Keenan Lewis will all play.  TE-Gabe Miller and OG-Jeremy Perry will not be available, Miller with a sore hamstring and Perry with ongoing knee/ankle problems.

Senior tackle Tavita Thompson will return after his year-long suspension, handed out by the NCAA for his use of a banned substance.

Thompson will not start, mentioned Riley. However, he will be worked into the rotation early and often.

Oregon State is perfect at home this season and has outscored opponents 138-41. 

Since 2006, OSU has outscored opponents 167-41 in the first quarter at home.  OSU will look to jump out early on the Devils and hold on for another home victory.

The Beavs look to improve to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in conference.  The 4-1 mark would tie them with USC and Oregon atop the Pac-10 standings.

Coach Riley is phenomenal after a BYE week.  He has won his last 12 games with an extra week to prepare.

Beaver fans hope both the early scoring trend and BYE week advantages continue in Week 10.  

If OSU can take care of the football and get to Carpenter, they should have no trouble beating up on ASU and further solidifying their claim as a legit Pac-10 contender in '08.

Prediction: OSU 38, ASU 17