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• Crucial Pac-10 tilt features Ducks against Wildcats

  
  

  Tucson, AZ (Sports Network) - With both teams controlling their own Pac-10 fate, the 11th-ranked Oregon Duck and Arizona Wildcats meet up in a crucial conference clash in the desert this weekend.

  Chip Kelly's Ducks (6-1) are a full game ahead of both Arizona and Stanford in the conference standings with two games to play. Winning out would assure the team captures the Pac-10 crown, earning a spot in the Rose Bowl. Oregon moved into this position with last weekend's 44-21 rout of Arizona State.

  Mike Stoops is enjoying a stellar season in Tucson, as the Wildcats are 4-2 in league play with three games to go. Arizona made things tougher on itself with last week's 24-16 loss at California. Still, if the Wildcats win out, it will be Arizona that earns the spot in the Rose Bowl.

  Oregon leads the all-time series by a count of 20-14, but the two teams has split 18 meetings at Arizona Stadium.

  Oregon officially is an offensive juggernaut, averaging 37.1 ppg, on 414.8 yards of total offense. In Pac-10 play, the team has been even sharper, going over 40 points in six of the seven league matches. It all starts with a punishing ground game that is netting 237.0 ypg. Freshman LaMichael James has burst on the scene after taking over the primary duties in the backfield and has abused the opposition to the tune of 7.0 yards per carry. James is among the nation's top tailbacks at 119.3 yards per game and has amassed 1,193 yards and 11 TDs on the season.

  Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is the orchestrator of the offense though and has the ability to pick apart defenses through the air or on the ground. Masoli is second on the team in rushing (558 yards, nine TDs), but can also make foes pay the price in the vertical game, throwing for 1,581 yards and 11 scores. Tight end Ed Dickson is as good as it gets in the country, pacing Oregon in receptions (37), receiving yards (488) and TD catches (5).

  With the exception of the Stanford game, Oregon has really turned up the heat defensively in league play and is now allowing a mere 312.3 yards of offense to the opposition. The pass defense has been particularly stout, yielding just 181.3 yards per game. With 22 forced turnovers and 27 sacks on the season, this is a squad that thrives on the big play.

  Pacing the team in that regard is sophomore safety Javes Lewis (team-high 66 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and two blocked kicks). Junior middle linebacker Casey Matthews is a close second in terms of total tackles (62). The player that teams have to account for along the defensive front is junior rush end Kenny Rowe (8.5 TFLs, 7.0 sacks).

  The Wildcats have the offensive personnel to turn this game into a shootout and win it. Arizona is averaging a robust 429.2 yards of total offense, getting great balance between the run (187.1 ypg) and the pass (242.1 ypg).

  Redshirt sophomore QB Nick Foles has been solid under center, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes (.697), for 1,736 yards, with 13 TDs. Senior wideout Terrell Turner currently paces the team in receptions (42, 407 yards, four TDs), but David Roberts (33 catches, for 352 yards, one TD) and Juron Criner (29 catches, for 403 yards, five TDs) are viable options downfield as well. The ground game is spearheaded by a few quality backs, including junior Nic Grigsby (7.5 ypc, five TDs) and sophomore Keola Antolin (4.9 ypg, three TDs).

  The offense is not the only unit that has delivered in Tucson this season, as Arizona has been effective against both the run (104.9 ypg) and the pass (200.2 ypg).

  Junior end Ricky Elmore (34 tackles, 8.5 sacks) is the player to watch for on the defensive line. Veteran LBs Xavier Kelley (55 tackles, two sacks) and Vuna Tuihalamaka (52 tackles, one INT) are formidable in the middle of the defense, while senior safety Cam Nelson (50 tackles, three sacks, one INT) and sophomore cornerback Trevin Wade (46 tackles, four INTs) lead the way in the secondary.

  11/18 11:09:55 ET