Arizona State vs. Oregon: Game of the Week Breakdown

The Arizona State Sun Devils will travel to Autzen Stadium in Week 7 to face the Oregon Ducks in a huge Pac-12 showdown.

The Sun Devils are 5-1, with their only loss coming at the hands of Illinois. Arizona State continues to get better offensively, while Vontaze Burfict leads an underrated Sun Devils defense.

Oregon is 4-1. Its only loss was against No. 1 LSU in Week 1. Oregon's style is no secret—lightning speed on the field and a fire-drill pace on offense.

This game could be a preview of the Pac-12 championship game.

Neither team has faced a tough conference foe. Both teams want to set the tone for the rest of their conference slate.

Here is how this major matchup breaks down.

The Quarterbacks

Brock Osweiler and Darron Thomas are two very different quarterbacks, both in terms of talent and size.

Arizona State's Osweiler stands 6'8" in the pocket. Yes, you are reading that correctly.

He has thrown for over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. However, he does have six interceptions.

Osweiler is in his first season as a full-time starter. He makes mistakes, but he has proven to be a leader when the Sun Devils have needed him.

Oregon's Thomas is a dual-threat quarterback. He has thrown for over 1,000 yards, 15 touchdowns and two interceptions. Thomas also has two rushing touchdowns.

Osweiler may be the more consistent passer, but Thomas runs Oregon's spread attack with scary efficiency.

Thomas makes fewer mistakes and has more experience.

The Running Backs

LaMichael James' status for Saturday's matchup is still uncertain. If James cannot go, the Sun Devils could hold an advantage on the ground.

The Ducks do still have De'Anthony Thomas and Kenjon Barner on the ground, two speedsters with proven big-play ability.

Oregon's spread attack would make any fast running back dangerous. With or without James, the Ducks will have some success running the football.

Arizona State's Cameron Marshall doesn't have the speed of James, Thomas or Barner. However, he does have consistency and power between the tackles.

Marshall has over 400 yards and seven rushing touchdowns so far this season.

If James is on the field, the Ducks hold the advantage without question. Without James, things become more interesting.

The Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

The Oregon Ducks do not rely on their passing attack to win football games. The ball is put in the air, but star power isn't found on the receiving end.

Freshman running back De'Anthony Thomas leads the team with 286 receiving yards, 17 catches and four touchdowns.

Lavasier Tuinei also has 17 catches and four touchdowns. He is a big-bodied receiver. Tuinei provides a solid third-down target for Darron Thomas.

The Sun Devils boast four capable receivers. Gerell Robinson, Aaron Pflugrad, Mike Willie and Jamal Miles are all ready to put points on the board if Brock Osweiler can find them.

Miles, Robinson and Pflugrad all have at least 26 catches. Miles and Pflugrad each have four touchdowns.

Neither team uses its tight end much.

Arizona State has great depth at receiver. Four solid options will make Osweiler's job much easier in raucous Autzen Stadium.

The Offensive Lines

Oregon's offensive line is vital to its rushing attack.

Mark Asper, Carson York and Darrion Weems lead a solid Ducks offensive line. Their ability to open cracks wide enough for Oregon's speedsters to scoot through is vital to the Ducks' success on Saturday.

Arizona State's Garth Gerhart and Evan Finkenberg may miss Saturday's game. This means the Sun Devils would have to play two first-time starters on their offensive line.

Oregon needs its offensive line to pave the way for a fast-paced ground attack. The Sun Devils need their potentially patched-together offensive line to protect Brock Osweiler.

Advantage Ducks. Three experienced players and good health are the differences.

The Defensive Lines

Arizona State and Oregon's defenses both have great speed as a unit. The Sun Devils, however, hold a definitive advantage on the front four.

Jamaar Jarrett and Junior Onyeali give the Sun Devils two solid bookends. Onyeali was the Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2010.

Will Sutton provides the push in the middle for the formidable Sun Devils rush defense.

Oregon does not have explosive playmakers on the defensive line. Terrell Turner is the unit's best player.

Arizona State has few distinct advantages in this game. One of them lies on the defensive line.

The Linebackers

Arizona State's best player is Vontaze Burfict. Burfict is ferocious and, well, downright scary at times.

The Sun Devils have a very deep linebacking corps. Led by Burfict, the linebackers pack a major punch on the Sun Devils defense. Their ability to bottle up Oregon's backs could swing this game one way or the other.

Oregon had to replace Casey Matthews and Spencer Paysinger from last season.

Josh Kaddu leads an inexperienced unit for the Ducks defense. Look for Cameron Marshall and the Sun Devils' ground game to exploit any weakness in the middle of the field.

The Secondaries

Cornerback Cliff Harris is Oregon's defensive superstar.

The Ducks have uncertainty at cornerback, other than Harris.. However, their safeties are very solid.

John Boyett and Eddie Pleasant provide a versatile duo in the defensive backfield. Pleasant is very physical, and Boyett is a rangy ball-hawk.

Oregon's secondary is above average because of Harris' exceptional playmaking ability.

Arizona State's Deveron Carr is the Sun Devils' most proven corner. The Sun Devils' safeties are used mostly against the pass because of the stout play of the front seven against the run.

The Kickers

Oregon uses two kickers to fulfill its kicking needs.

Alejandro Maldonado handles extra points and has missed one field goal from over 50 yards. Rob Beard has made two field goals, but his long is only 30 yards.

An unproven kicking game could be a nuisance in a major conference battle.

Alex Garoutte handles kicking duties for the Sun Devils. He is 5-of-8 with a long of 49 yards.

Garoutte is slightly more proven and has showcased a stronger leg so far this season. In a big game, that could make all the difference.

Conclusion and Prediction

An upset pick is not out of the question here. The Sun Devils get better every week.

Defensively, the Sun Devils hold the advantage. Their front seven is very good and very aggressive.

Vontaze Burfict is as good as it gets at linebacker this season in college football. He is talented enough to change a game in a heartbeat.

Burfict's supporting cast up front should help slow down the Ducks rushing attack.

However, this is Brock Osweiler's toughest game of his short career. Autzen Stadium is very difficult for opposing teams to enter. Osweiler will feel the presence of Oregon's 12th man.

Osweiler will make a few too many mistakes. Arizona State loses by a hair despite its budding passing attack.

Final score: Oregon 31, Arizona State 27