ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State has been utterly dominant while winning its first two games. The Sun Devils' defense is ranked No. 1 in the nation. The offense ranks ninth with 44 points a game.

Now, take that information, crumple it up and throw it out the window. Coach Dennis Erickson knows that pounding on Idaho State and Louisiana-Monroe means little.

	Matt Kartozian/US Presswire
	Saturday's game at Sanford Stadium will be Danny Sullivan's first start on the road.

A trip to No. 17 Georgia on Saturday? That's a bit of an upgrade in competition.

"We'll find out a little bit more about what we are as a team, that's the bottom line," Erickson said. "It doesn't matter who they are or what their rank is. We're [asking] right now, 'where are we at as a football team?'"

Erickson repeated variations of those sentiments to a variety of questions: Georgia will be a measuring stick for the Sun Devils.

If they manage to win, or least keep things competitive into the fourth quarter, they might become a top-half of the Pac-10 team, though the Bulldogs probably aren't in the class of California or USC this season.

If they can't keep up, then Arizona State likely falls in with the gaggle of teams scrapping for six wins and bowl eligibility in the lower-middle, bottom-third of the conference.

Of course, one game, win or lose, doesn't a season make. It's possible the Sun Devils in Athens, Ga., won't be anything like the Sun Devils in November. Still, this is the first chance to evaluate Arizona State against a first-rate BCS conference team.

Georgia opened a can of whup butt on the Sun Devils last year, the 27-10 count not doing justice to the Bulldogs dominance.

Georgia took a 21-3 lead into halftime and mostly coasted home. They outrushed the Sun Devils 176 yards to 4 and outgained them overall 461-212.

"They pretty much dominated us," Erickson said. "We didn't play very well and they played well."

The first question is how Arizona State quarterback Danny Sullivan will handle his first start on the road in one of the nation's tougher venues -- "Between the Hedges" at Sanford Stadium.

That's impossible to say. Sullivan is a senior, but the last time he faced a fast, elite defense, he crumbled after coming off the bench in 2008 at USC.

While the Georgia defense doesn't compare to USC -- it's given up 34 points per game -- two of those games were on the road, so the home crowd should help.

"Until you go in there and experience it, you just don't know," Erickson said.

On the other hand, this is a different group of Sun Devils. The defense is deeper and faster than last year's and, while there's lots of experience, a youth movement led by tackles Lawrence Guy, a sophomore, and William Sutton and Corey Adams as well as linebacker Vontaze Burfict -- all true freshmen -- is most intriguing.

Yet the biggest difference might be on the offensive line.

In 2008, the Sun Devils started converted defensive lineman Jon Hargis at left tackle and 289-pound redshirt freshman Adam Tello at right tackle. Things didn't go well for either.

A far more experienced Hargis is now the left guard, while Tello is his backup. NFL prospect Shawn Lauvao moved out to left tackle, while guard Matt Hustad and tackle Tom Njunge give the Sun Devils far more athleticism on the right side. Neither was healthy last year.

Is it a great offensive line? No. But last year's unit didn't have a chance -- the Sun Devils ranked 113th in the nation in rushing and surrendered 34 sacks (109th in the nation). This time around, it might.

"We're much more solid, we have more depth," Erickson said. "We're playing a little bit better, technique-wise and so forth. We made some moves to get our best players in the right positions. As we go through the next 10 weeks, if we lose a guy or two, we'll put people out there who play pretty well. I like where we're at. Are we a great offensive line? No, but we're getting better all the time and we're better now than we were at this time last year."

Georgia, meanwhile, entered the season having to replace running back Knowshon Moreno and quarterback Matt Stafford, NFL first-round picks who dominated the action in last year's game. The Bulldogs seem to be getting their legs under them after opening with a loss at Oklahoma State. They had just 257 total yards against the Cowboys but piled up 530 yards Saturday in their win over Arkansas.

"Joe Cox is playing extremely well at quarterback," Erickson said. "The last two weeks, I didn't see any drop-off."

A key matchup will be Bulldogs sophomore receiver A.J. Green against the Sun Devils secondary, particularly cornerback Omar Bolden. Last year, Green dominated Bolden, catching eight passes for 159 yards and a touchdown.

Erickson's advice to his team on handling the frenzy of a road game in an SEC stadium? Have fun.

"You talk to our players about it and they're excited to go down there and experience [that]," he said. "It's going to be fun; they're looking forward to it."

Sounds like the Sun Devils are eager to find out who they really are in 2009.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Lining up this week's action.

No. 6 California (3-0) at Oregon (2-1)

Cal won 26-16 last year. ... The Bears lead the all-time series 39-30-2. ... California owns the Pac-10's longest winning streak at six games. ... Oregon owns the longest winning streak in conference games at three games. ... Cal has won three in a row in the series. ... The Ducks have faced three ranked teams in their first four games. ... Bears running back Jahvid Best scored five rushing TDs against Minnesota, tying the Pac-10's single-game record, and he has seven consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing. ... The Ducks ended Utah's 16-game winning streak on Saturday. The Utes entered the game averaging 509 yards per game, but the Ducks held them to 297 total yards. ... Cal QB Kevin Riley has throw five TD passes with no interceptions. ... Oregon CB Walter Thurmond has scored TDs this year on a punt return and interception return. ... Cal ranks second in the Pac-10 in run defense (63.3 yards per game). ... Oregon ranks last in the Pac-10 in passing and total offense.

Arizona State (2-0) at Georgia (2-1)

Georgia leads the series 1-0, winning last year at Arizona State 27-10. ... Georgia outgained the Sun Devils 461 yards to 212 last year. ... The Bulldogs had to replace quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno, who both were first-round NFL draft picks in the spring, with Stafford going No. 1 overall. ... Arizona State has given up just two touchdowns and 17 points in its first two games. ... The Bulldogs had just 257 total yards in their opening loss at Oklahoma State. They had 530 yards Saturday in their win over Arkansas. ... The Sun Devils haven't lost a turnover this season, while picking off six passes.

Arizona (2-1) at Oregon State (2-1)

Oregon State won 19-17 last year. ... The Wildcats lead the all-time series 20-11-1. ... In last year's game, Oregon State kicker Justin Kahut made a 24-yard field goal as time expired to earn the Beavers the road win. ... Quarterback Sean Canfield made his second-consecutive start for the injured Lyle Moevao in that game. Canfield will start against the Wildcats Saturday. ... Arizona announced that Nick Foles will start at quarterback. Matt Scott started the first three games. ... The Wildcats also announced that tight end Rob Gronkowski will have back surgery this week and is out for the season. ... Beavers junior receiver James Rodgers has become just the second player in program history to combine more than 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving. ... Wildcats running back Nic Grigsby is sixth in the nation and second in the Pac-10 with 133.33 yards rushing per game. ... Oregon State has lost only one turnover in three games.

No. 24 Washington (2-1, 1-0)) at Stanford (2-1, 1-0)

Stanford won 35-28 last year. ... Washington leads the all-time series 40-35-4. ... Washington's defense didn't allow USC to convert on 10 third-down opportunities in Saturday's 16-13 Huskies upset win. ... Stanford''s sophomore defensive end Tom Keiser had three sacks against San Jose State and he's tied for first in the conference with four sacks and ranks first with six tackles for a loss. ... Huskies quarterback Jake Locker has the most pass attempts in the conference this year -- 105 [Edit note: This total was changed from 63, the number of completions Locker has] -- but he has only thrown one interception. His five TD passes is tied for No. 1 in the conference. ... Locker suffered a season-ending thumb injury while trying to throw a block in last year's game at Husky Stadium. ... Stanford has scored first in every game this year. ... The Huskies are third in the nation in third-down conversion percentage (60.42 percent). ... Stanford's Chris Owusu ranks No. 1 in the nation in kickoff returns. He's averaging 52.8 yards per return and has taken two back for touchdowns, which no one else in the nation has done.

Washington State (1-2, 0-1) at No. 12 USC (2-1, 0-1)

USC won 69-0 last year. ... USC leads the series 56-8-4. ... In last year's game, the Trojans outgained the Cougars 625 yards to 116. The Cougars only had four first downs vs. 28 for USC. ... USC free safety Taylor Mays sat out of the Washington game, ending a string of 40 consecutive starts. It was the first game he's missed in his entire USC career. He is expected to play Saturday. ... Washington State overcame a 17-0 deficit to beat SMU 30-27 in overtime last weekend. ... The Trojans rank first in the conference in run defense, with opponents averaging just 1.6 yards per rush. The Trojans also haven't yielded a TD pass. ... Washington State is ranked last in the Pac-10 in scoring offense and defense, rushing offense and defense, pass defense and total defense. ... Cougars punter Reid Forrest leads the Pac-10 in punting with a 45.5-yard average.

UCLA is off. It plays at Stanford on Oct. 3.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

TEMPE, Ariz. -- I watched USC brutalize Ohio State. And I've now watched Georgia manhandle Arizona State.

	AP Photo/Paul Connors
	Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno showed once again he is one of the best in the nation Saturday night.

The obvious question is: Who's better?

Heck if I know.

But if I had to guess, I'd take USC.

That seemed to be the consensus opinion among a couple of other reporters I talked to who had covered both games.

Say what you want about Ohio State, but it's laden with NFL players and few folks would pick the Sun Devils to beat the Buckeyes.

That said: If the Bulldogs go undefeated against a schedule that includes Alabama (next Saturday), LSU, Florida and Auburn, the sight test won't matter because they will have passed the "do test."

That's a big if, which is probably why Georgia coach Mark Richt didn't want to start lobbying for respect just yet, even though his team, ranked No. 1 in the preseason, has dropped two spot in the polls while watching everyone fall in love with the Trojans.

"I wasn't really worried about making a statement," Richt said. "I just wanted to win the game."

Georgia has one of the slickest running backs in the nation in Knowshon Moreno. QB Matt Stafford owns the best arm I've seen since Carson Palmer. Freshman wide receiver A.J. Green looks ready for his close-up, too.

And the defense? Its linebackers are fast and its front four is physical. The secondary is above-average.

The defense is great against the run. It entered the game surrendering 59.7 yards rushing per game and held the Sun Devils to an embarrassing four yards on the ground.

The Bulldogs struggled to pressure opposing QBs, but the one-dimensional Sun Devils made things predictable and Georgia had four sacks.

However, be forewarned Dawgs fans: It's unlikely Georgia will face any more offensive lines with as many issues as ASU, at least not in its marquee games ahead.

Of course, Georgia isn't exactly dominant on its offensive line, and that youth -- two freshmen and two sophomores started -- that played fairly well against ASU, probably will find the going rougher against SEC front-sevens.

Or USC's front seven, should those teams hook in a some sort of game, you know, down the line.

While this game made a statement -- Georgia took care of business a long way from home against a quality opponent -- the Bulldogs don't need to fret about what sort of message they're sending.

Against this schedule, just winning makes a statement.

"We obviously know the prettier it is, the more people are going to look at it," Stafford said. "But we don't look at it like that... We definitely haven't arrived."

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Whichever team you are rooting for, you've got to appreciate that Knowshon Moreno "Desert Dive" that capped the Bulldogs 91-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter. He left the ground at the 4-yard line and flew into the endzone. Spectacular and Reggie Bush-esque.

It also seems like the ASU defense is vulnerable on the perimeter -- those UGA sweeps are consistently getting yards.

It's not good when you respond to a 91-yard drive with a three and out and gain zero yards on three incompletions. Nor is it good to follow by getting a punt blocked. Georgia is not a team to make things easy for.

That's why Dimitri Nance's non-contact fumble was so damaging.

The defense stopped Georgia after the blocked punt and gave it's offense good field position, only to return to the field two plays later.

It's got to be demoralizing. You could also sense the resignation in the stadium that the Bulldogs were about to go up 14-0, which they promptly did.

Remember what I said about A.J. Green? He's really good.

ASU closed the gap to 14-3 and the Bulldogs go ping-ping-ping --- 23, 31 and 14 yards to Green, the final toss for a TD.

Green has six catches for 139 yards heading into halftime.

Yowza, 21-3.

Will ASU have any answers or is this going to get ugly?

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

TEMPE, Ariz. -- No early explosion for either team. Both seem to be feeling each other out. That would seem to favor Arizona State, which needs to believe it can keep up with Georgia.

But Georgia's offense found its rhythm on the final possession of the quarter, driving from its 9-yard line to a first-and-goal on the Sun Devils 8-yard-line as quarter ends.

Early returns on the Arizona State running game: Struggling.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

TEMPE, Ariz. -- About the only thing that favors Arizona State tonight against No. 3 Georgia is the temperature, which stands at 99 degrees an hour before kickoff.

Not that it's difficult to imagine how the Sun Devils might beat the Bulldogs.

1. ASU quarterback Rudy Carpenter picks apart a fair-to-middling Georgia secondary.

2. Georgia's young offensive line makes enough mistakes that quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno never establish their rhythm.

3. The Bulldogs give up a bunch of turnovers. The Sun Devils do not.

4. This is college football. Anything can happen.

But, if you watched UNLV mount an 18-play, 88-yard drive and a 10-play, 73-yard drive to force overtime in Sun Devil Stadium, it's hard to imagine that Moreno and Stafford won't be able to consistently make plays, even though ASU gets linebackers Gerald Munns and Morris Wooten and defensive end Jamarr Robinson back.

On the other side of the ball, if the Sun Devils can't run against UNLV, then how can they be expected to run against an SEC defense?

And if Carpenter is forced to pass just about every play, how can the questionable offensive line protect him against an athletic front with its ears pinned back?

As for the heat: This isn't Colorado coming to Tempe. The Bulldogs are used to the heat and humidity of the deep South. They won't lose because they're sweating.

Moreover, the Bulldogs are expecting 10,000 fans -- maybe as many as 15,000, according to some estimates -- to show up to support their beloved Dawgs.

And it's not like, in any event, that UGA is unfamiliar with hostile stadiums. They are 26-4 on the road under coach Mark Richt and are 9-2 vs. ranked teams.

This is college football. Anything can happen.