 "Photo: Joel Zink | Daily Trojan")
ESPN scheduled its Thanksgiving night game with hopes of showcasing a team contending for the BCS title on national TV. The network has received its wish - only it probably wasn't the team it was expecting.
Thursday night, No. 7 Arizona State (9-1, 6-1 Pac-10) will play host to No. 11 USC (8-2, 5-2) in a game that has major bowl implications for both teams.
Arizona State can keep its slim BCS title hopes alive if is wins, but the resurgent Trojans stand in the Sun Devils' way.
Since losing to Oregon, the Trojans have won two in a row, including a win over then-No. 24 Cal in their last game. This, coupled with Oregon's loss this past weekend, opened a door that many thought was closed for the Trojans.
They can still win the Pac-10 championship and gain a spot in the Rose Bowl with victories over the Sun Devils and UCLA in their remaining two games and a little help from the Ducks.
The thought of playing in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day is not lost on the players.
"We don't live in a glass house. We do know what's going on out there and the implications of this game," defensive end Lawrence Jackson said.
Yet, New Year's Day is far away, and the Trojans must concentrate on Arizona State.
The Sun Devil's surprising defense ranks in the top 20 nationally in almost every statistical category. Strong safety Troy Nolan leads the Pac-10 with five interceptions.
This will be a tough force for the Trojan offense to overcome, and it knows it must protect the ball to have success.
"Anytime the ball is thrown shorter than it should be, [the Arizona State defense] seizes the opportunity and force a lot of turnovers," tight end Fred Davis said.
Tailback Chauncey Washington will have a chance to be a factor as the Trojans' offense looks to wear down the stingy Sun Devils defense.
"Chauncey is in great shape for this late in the season. He runs tough, attacks the line of scrimmage and is always carrying tacklers with him and gaining extra yards," USC coach Pete Carroll said.
Washington will use those extra yards to build on his 220-yard performance against Cal on Nov. 10.
The Sun Devil defense gives up an average of 103 rushing yards per game - far less than the amount USC has put up recently.
In their last five games, the Trojans have averaged 163 yards on the ground.
Not to be lost in the matchup is the Trojans' defense.
USC ranks third nationally in total defense and first in the Pac-10. But it faces an ASU team that ranks in the top 25 nationally in total offense and yards passing, led by quarterback Rudy Carpenter.
The Trojans have been preparing for the skillful Carpenter all week.
"[Arizona State] does some good stuff offensively - they have good coaches and good players, but we have a guy to get after [Rudy]," Jackson said.
Containing Carpenter is a key factor for the Trojan defense. Jackson, who has 22.5 carreer sacks, and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, a 2007 Bedinark and Lott trophy finalist, anchor a line that will try to put pressure on Carpenter.
The hope is that sacks and constant pressure will force Carpenter to release the ball early, thereby causing some ill-advised passes that will result in turnovers for the defense.
Opportunistic play will be at a premium as the defense might be missing one of its leaders in senior linebacker Keith Rivers. Junior Kaluka Maiava will start in his place, and Carroll will determine later this week if Rivers, who has a high ankle sprain, can play at all.
USC has battled injuries all season and is starting to resemble the team many people envisioned it to be at the start of the season.
The team has expressed feeling a greater confidence on both sides of the ball, and playing as the lower-ranked team has the players excited at the prospect of a marquee win.
"There are high expectations for USC football, and two losses in a season is horrible. But that gets you fired up to keep winning, and you have to play hard in November," Davis said.
The Trojans' thoughts are almost entirely focused on football as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. Sacrificing Thanksgiving dinner is something the players aren't too concerned about.
"I'm not going to eat too much that day, so I'll probably have my Thanksgiving on Friday," Davis said.
Washington one-upped Davis by claiming he lives for the Friday-after-Thanksgiving dinners.
"The food will still be there. The leftovers are the best part."
