ASU are playing #3 USC this evening. The game last year was a classic, although ASU lost 38-28 after leading 21-3 at the half. Here is what I wrote last year. I have my doubts that today's game will be quite as close.
Update #1: End of the first half and ASU are down 21-7. Once again, ASU have no passing game (Carpenter is 6 for 11 and 86 yards), Ryan Torain has been practically the only Sun Devil playing (12 rushes for 34 yards and one TD; 2 receptions for 40 yards), and Zach Miller is unused except as a (very effective) blocker. Dumb unforced errors as always are hurting.
Update #2: Well who would have seen this. Heading into the fourth and it is tied 21 a piece. ASU have scored three unanswered touchdowns and the defense is stepping up.
Update #3: ASU held USC until 4:30 to go, but ultimately lost 28-21. The USC score came from a 74 yard drive that was almost exclusively due to the rushing of Chauncey Washington.
ASU showed some heart coming back from 21 down. Carpenter got a little of his swagger back in the third, and overall I think this was a good game for the Devils.
I think it is fair to say that USC certainly aren't the best team in the Pac-10 (that would be Cal) and certainly don't deserve their #3 ranking. Their past three games have been just too close. With Florida losing, some would argue that USC should be #2 when the BSC rankings come out tomorrow ... I don't think so. Even if USC stay at #3, ASU deserve to be ranked again.
ASU drop to 0-3 in the Pac-10, 3-3 overall. Stranford (0-7) are up next.
USC are 6-0, but three of those wins were close - USC is not as good as people think.
Update #4: Todd Kelly at the Arizona Republic probably hits the nail on the head:
The record books will show this as another loss for ASU, another failed attempt to win a conference game in the state of California (0-13 now under Dirk Koetter). It will also show a 27th straight Pac-10 win for USC, a 30th straight home win for the Trojans.
What it won't show was the tremendous effort by the Sun Devils. Sure, there are no moral victories, but did you expect a win here anyway? What ASU fans wanted was a little effort, a little heart. And they got it, which is what they needed to see coming off the Oregon and Cal embarassments.
It's too bad their Sun Devils couldn't return home victorious because they fought hard, especially after falling behind by three touchdowns early on. The players showed that they still care and they still want to go out there and win. The '06 Sun Devils simply aren't as good as some (present company included) thought they would be, but maybe they can prove that they're not as bad as some think they are either.
