Last Updated on October 5, 2010 6:54 pm by Anthony Rome
Oregon State vs. Arizona Preview
Tucson, AZ – A surprisingly smothering defense has helped Arizona jump out to its best start in a dozen years.
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That unit will receive its latest test from Oregon State, which is led by the dynamic Rodgers brothers.
Ranked in the top 10 for the first time in more than a decade, the No. 9 Wildcats look to shut down a Beavers team trying to build on its best offensive game Saturday night in Tucson.
Oddsmakers from online sports book BroburySports.com have made Arizona –7.5 point spread favorites for Saturday’s game against Oregon State. Current NCAA Public Betting Information shows that 65% of more than 775 bets for this game have been placed on Oregon State +7.5.
Arizona (4-0, 1-0 Pac-10) opened the season with easy victories over Toledo and The Citadel, followed by an impressive win over then-No. 9 Iowa and a gritty 10-9 victory over California on Sept. 25. The Wildcats seemed headed for a crushing loss to the Bears, but Nick Foles’ 3-yard TD pass to Juron Criner with 1:11 remaining helped them move to 4-0 for the first time since opening the 1998 season with five victories.
Physically and emotionally drained after the first four games, Arizona got an opportunity to regroup and get healthy with a bye last week.
“The bye week could not come fast enough,” said Criner, who was questionable for the Cal game because of turf toe.
Despite not playing this past weekend, the Wildcats moved up five spots in the Top 25, giving them their highest ranking since they were No. 4 in the 1999 preseason poll.
That’s due in large part to the defense, which was seen as a weak spot heading into the season but has carried the team to this point.
The Wildcats rank second in the FBS in total defense at 230.8 yards per game, third in scoring defense at 11.0 points a contest and fourth in passing defense at 129.5 yards a game. They’ve given up three touchdowns – all to the Hawkeyes.
“We play hard and with our hair on fire,” cornerback Trevin Wade said. “We just like to step up to challenges.”
The unit will receive another challenge from Oregon State (2-2, 1-0), which appeared to find its offensive rhythm in a 31-28 win over Arizona State last Saturday.
The Beavers were 113th in the FBS in offense at 270.3 yards per contest before rolling up 416 against the Sun Devils.
“I think we’re just getting more comfortable,” sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz said. “I think we’re just scratching the surface.”
Katz made his fourth career start and played his best game, completing 19 of 29 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He directed an offense missing top receiver James Rodgers, who sat out after sustaining a concussion in a 37-24 loss at then-No. 3 Boise State the week before.
Rodgers, who had 119 receiving yards and 116 yards on five kick returns in a 37-32 loss to Arizona last Sept. 26, is expected back for this game.
The senior isn’t the only playmaker – or the only Rodgers – the Wildcats will need to contain.
James’ younger brother Jacquizz Rodgers ran for a season-best 145 yards and two touchdowns last week, and has six rushing TDs on the year. He had 85 yards and two scores on 16 carries against the Wildcats last season.
That meeting in Corvallis marked a breakout performance for Foles, who passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start.
The junior has established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the Pac-10 this season, having thrown for 1,089 yards with six TDs. He has a conference-best 74.5 completion percentage.
“Nick has a lot of confidence when he has the ball last and he needs to score points,” Arizona coach Mike Stoops said.
The Wildcats have won 15 of their last 18 at Arizona Stadium, although one of those defeats was a 19-17 loss to then-No. 21 Oregon State in 2008.
The Beavers will be facing their third top 10 opponent after falling to then-No. 6 TCU 30-21 in the season opener and losing to the Broncos. They have won nine of 11 over the Wildcats and four straight in Tucson since a 27-7 loss in 1997.
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