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Joey Johnston's College Football Sidelines

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 2, 2007

WESTERN EXPOSURE

The Pac-10 - pretty much a one-team show by USC for most of this century - takes center stage tonight with an unexpected battle for national-title implications.

Arizona State (8-0, 5-0) at Oregon (7-1, 4-1).

The Ducks were picked sixth in a preseason Pac-10 media poll.

"I sort of smiled inwardly," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said.

No one knew that Ducks QB Dennis Dixon (leading the Pac-10 in pass efficiency rating) and RB Jonathan Stewart (1,043 yards, 6.7-yard average) would emerge as legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates.

And who knew that Arizona State, in its first season under Coach Dennis Erickson, could enter November as an unbeaten team.

Erickson, who won two national titles at Miami, seems to be enjoying himself. Near the end of last week's 31-20 win against California, Erickson pumped his fists on the sideline, exhorted the crowd and later picked up a pitchfork (from mascot Sparky the Sun Devil) and shoved it into the ground.

"I got caught up in the moment," Erickson said. "I was excited. You won't see that every week."

But one thing you have seen nearly every week is a Sun Devils comeback. Arizona State has outscored opponents 153-29 in the second half. ASU has overcome early deficits to Colorado (14-0), Oregon State (19-0) and California (13-0).

SAWING WOOD

Kansas (8-0 for the first time since 1909, 4-0 Big 12 North) faces struggling Nebraska (4-5, 1-4), a team that held a 36-game winning streak against the Jayhawks until KU's 2005 breakthrough.

But this has been a season of positive milestones for the Jayhawks, who have taken to the "sawing wood" slogan of Coach Mark Mangino.

"Sawing wood in the old days before they had power saws, if you were going to build your own house, you didn't have a choice," Mangino said. "If your arm was sore, you were tired, your back hurt, you didn't have a choice. If you're going to get the house built, you had to keep sawing."

Kansas has mostly done it with defense, but if a recent trend holds, one of the Jayhawks' offensive players is due for a big game.

For four consecutive weeks, the Big 12 Conference's offensive player of the week has come from a Nebraska opponent - Chase Daniel (Missouri), Dontrell Savage (Oklahoma State), Stephen McGee (Texas A&M) and Jamaal Charles (Texas).

BIG TEN SHOWDOWN

Wisconsin (7-2, 3-2 Big Ten) doesn't figure to be intimidated by its trip to No. 1-ranked Ohio State (9-0, 5-0). For one thing, the Badgers have won three consecutive games at the Horseshoe.

But respect? Yes, the Badgers have deep respect for the Buckeyes, who have won 19 straight Big Ten games and 27 consecutive regular-season contests.

"They have very few breakdowns," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. "A lot of times when you win a football game, it's based on what you do. But a lot of times people give you the game or give you points or give you yards. Ohio State doesn't do that."

VOLUNTEERS ARE BACK

Tennessee (5-3, 3-2 SEC East) was written off after losing three road games by an average of 25 points. Now the Volunteers, if they win out, will have a spot in the SEC Championship Game after last week's 27-24 overtime victory against South Carolina.

"This is a crazy league," Tennessee QB Erik Ainge said. "You are never out of it. We're back where we were two weeks ago. A lot of things had to go right for us to beat South Carolina. We had to fall on some fumbles and one of the best kickers in the league South Carolina's Ryan Succop had to miss a kick."

Tennessee, 4-0 at home, has a non-conference game against Louisiana-Lafayette today before finishing with Arkansas (Nov. 10), Vanderbilt (Nov. 17) and at Kentucky (Nov. 24).

NOTABLE NUMBERS

•Will Missouri (7-1) have another November free-fall? In the past four seasons under Coach Gary Pinkel, the Tigers began 20-4, then slumped to 8-17 after Halloween. The Tigers, at Colorado today, haven't won in Boulder since 1997.

•With five tackles today against Purdue, LB Dan Connor would become the all-time leader at Penn State (Linebacker U), breaking the record of 372 by former teammate Paul Posluszny.

•Arkansas RB Darren McFadden was deemed one of the preseason Heisman Trophy favorites, but how about some love for his backfield teammate? Felix Jones leads the nation in average yards per rushing attempt (8.81). On his initial run of this season's games, he's averaging a whopping 17.5 yards.

•One week after giving up 465 yards rushing to Oregon, the Washington defense allowed 510 yards passing to Arizona QB Willie Tuitama.

•Virginia (7-2), which lost to N.C. State 29-24, was trying to set a school record with an eight-game winning streak. The Cavaliers have been playing football since 1888.

•Oregon State goes to USC, where it hasn't won since 1960. Beavers coach Mike Riley called the 20-game losing streak "one of those lingering ghosts that is still there." The Beavers beat USC 33-31 last season at Corvallis, Ore.

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