Week 6: Arizona State at California

OK, so who’s No. 2 in the Pac-10? Arizona State was the runner-up to USC last season, and Cal came in second to the same team the year before. With the no-longer-undefeated Trojans still the overwhelming favorites to claim a seventh consecutive league championship, this Bay Area match-up could go a long way to determining who gets the Holiday Bowl bid reserved for the Pac-10’s No. 2 team.

The team that shows up with the healthier, more productive tailback likely wins this one. The problem is, Cal has lost the services of leading rusher (421 yards), receiver (14-157) and scorer (four TDs) Jahvid Best to a dislocated elbow for three weeks, while Arizona State hopes to rely on a still in recovery Keegan Herring (hamstring), who has just 12 carries this season and admittedly is not 100 percent. With Herring mostly watching, the Sun Devils have averaged just 89 rushing yards per game. The Golden Bears appear to have an able Best replacement in redshirt freshman Shane Vereen, who has run 35 times for 279 yards and two scores, racing to the end zone with an 81-yarder against Michigan State and a 39-yard against Washington. Cal also ranks second in the league in rushing defense, permitting just 101 yards per game, and no individual 100-yard rushers this season.

Quarterback might be a wash, with Arizona State’s prolific Rudy Carpenter trading throws with Cal’s highly capable Kevin Riley. The lines are solid, not spectacular. Where the Golden Bears could win this one is with their ability to score with their secondary and special teams. Counting interceptions and blocked kick returns, Cal has piled up five touchdowns, two run back by sophomore Bryant Nnabuife on deflected punts. Better block some of these guys slicing through on fourth down, or it’s a real long ride back to Tempe.

Notes:

Arizona State leads the series 14-13, but has lost four of the past five games. The Sun Devils haven’t won in Berkeley since 1997, taking a 31-20 decision.

The Sun Devils come off two consecutive home defeats and a bye week. They spent the time off tinkering with a few weak spots, with right tackle foremost among the possible changes. Blocking breakdowns were clearly evident against Georgia. Junior Tom Njunge could replace redshirt freshman and incumbent Adam Tello.

Cal switched from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 without any letdown, largely because it has one of the most veteran linebacking corps nationwide in seniors Zack Follett, Anthony Felder and Worrell Williams. Felder leads the team with 31 tackles, Williams is second with 23 and Follett has six tackles for loss.

The opportunistic Golden Bears have eight interceptions in four games after pilfering just 10 all last season.

Key Player (Sun Devils) – Rudy Carpenter, QB

He carries the load without complaining, having made 35 consecutive starts. He’s tied for seventh with former USC quarterback Carson Palmer for career Pac-10 touchdown passes with 72, and is 12th in career passing yards, needing 168 to catch former Stanford standout John Elway. He easily could put up big numbers in the Bay Area.

Key Player (Golden Bears) – Syd’Quan Thompson, CB

This guy makes quarterbacks and special teams extremely nervous. He leads the Pac-10 with three interceptions, picking up a school-record 108 return yards against Washington State. He had a 73-yard punt return for a score against Colorado State, plus nine tackles, including a sack. He’s made 30 consecutive starts. Experience and speed is a potent combination.

California by 7