In the 50 days leading up to Arizona’s season-opener against Toledo, on Sept. 1 at Arizona Stadium, TucsonCitizen.com and its affiliate WildAboutAZCats.net will rank the Top 50 games in the history of the football program. The ranking is at No. 48 as the kickoff to the Wildcats’ season — and the start of the Rich Rodriguez era — is only 48 days away.

SCORE: Arizona Wildcats 31, Arizona State Sun Devils 27

DATE: Nov. 19, 2011

SITE: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, attendance 72,694

WHY IT MADE THE LIST: Other than believing it is cool for the most recent win over Arizona State to follow the first in program history over the Tempe school, this game merits a ranking because of how the Wildcats won despite the odds. ASU was 6-4 under veteran coach Dennis Erickson and playing at home against a 2-8 Arizona team playing under interim coach Tim Kish, who replaced Mike Stoops after Stoops was fired following Arizona’s 1-5 start. Arizona, coming off a 48-29 loss to Pac-12 South cellar dweller Colorado, had appeared to be on its last legs in the fourth quarter, trailing ASU by 10 points. The Cats had lost 13 of their past 14 games against FBS competition. They were 10-point underdogs. They had not won a game all season as an underdog.

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With teams that like to throw first and run second in Wednesday’s Alamo Bowl, expect a long game at the Alamodome.

If Oklahoma State balances the run with the pass expect a longer day for Arizona. Chances are, given the performance of both teams this season, the Cowboys have a much better chance to establish a running game.

Oklahoma State running back Kendall Hunter must be contained by Arizona's defense for the Wildcats to have a chance tonight in the Alamo Bowl (US Presswire photo/Brett Davis)

That can spell trouble because Arizona was cruising to a 7-1 record before Stanford, USC and Oregon ran for a combined 811 rushing yards against the Wildcats. The UA’s other nine opponents ran for only 829, an average of 92.1 rushing yards per game.

Oklahoma State, led by senior running back Kendall Hunter, has rushed for 2,195 yards overall with 25 rushing touchdowns. Hunter accounts for 1,516 of those yards on 216 carries and he has scored 16 touchdowns. By contrast, Arizona has rushed for only 1,622 yards with 20 touchdowns.

Keola Antolin leads the Wildcats with 667 yards on 142 carries. Hunter had 700 yards rushing by the fifth game of the season.

The bottom line: Oklahoma State will likely get its rushing yardage. The key will be limiting big plays (for example, third-down conversions or a demoralizing long touchdown run).

Arizona could have been more of a threat to No. 1 Oregon in Eugene had it not been for Josh Huff‘s 85-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Stanford wore down the Cats by converting 9 of 14 third-down plays. The Cardinal’s offensive line shoved aside Arizona’s defensive front as Stepfan Taylor rushed for four touchdowns. The UA allowed only two rushing touchdowns — both against Oregon State in another loss — in its six games before facing Stanford.

USC’s Marc Tyler and his offensive line is arguably the most physically gift and imposing unit the UA faced this year. The Trojans’ line was too much for Arizona to handle. That was exposed especially in the second half. Tyler had 10 of his 31 carries in the fourth quarter when USC went for the knockout punch.

ASU beat Arizona because the Wildcats self-destructed with two blocked extra-point tries by Alex Zendejas, and at least five dropped potential interceptions. ASU’s defense also limited the Cats to five successful third-down conversions in 17 attempts.

The Sun Devils were also afforded 92 offensive plays in the double-overtime game. Any team given 92 tries to advance the ball has a good chance of winning.

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Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden has completed 67.4 percent of his 470 passes for 4,307 yards and 32 touchdowns. The 6-4, 224-pound junior has thrown only 13 interceptions. (US Presswire photo/Brendan Maloney)

The oddsmakers in Las Vegas and elsewhere have placed an over-under total of 66 points on Wednesday’s Alamo Bowl between Arizona and Oklahoma State.

For those oblivious to sports gambling, which is a good thing, that means they believe the high-powered offenses of Arizona and Oklahoma State will combine for 66 points. How will those points factor into the final score: Oklahoma State 36, Arizona 30? Arizona 34, Oklahoma State 32?

The Wildcats lost 33-0 last year against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. What are the chances Oklahoma State doubles that with a 66-0 victory in San Antonio? About the same chance UA coach Mike Stoops remains calm and silent on the sideline an entire game?

Depending on what sportsbook you research, the Cowboys, leaders of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense (537.6 yards per game), are favored by 4.5 to 6 points. The Wildcats must contend with the No. 3 scoring team in the nation (44.9 points per game).

More reason to believe this will be a high-scoring affair:

• Arizona quarterback Nick Foles and receiver Juron Criner vs. Oklahoma State counterparts Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon is worth the admission alone.
• Blackmon, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior, has hauled in 102 passes for 1,655 yards while gaining unanimous All-America honors from The Associated Press. He’s scored 20 touchdowns, including an FBS-high 18 on receptions.
• Weeden has completed 67.4 percent of his 470 passes for 4,307 yards and 32 touchdowns. The 6-4, 224-pound junior has thrown only 13 interceptions.
• The 6-5, 245-pound Foles has completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 2,911 yards and 19 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. His reliable go-to guy Criner has 73 catches for 1,186 yards and 10 touchdowns.
• The total has gone over in five of Arizona’s last 6 games. The total has also gone over in eight of Oklahoma State’s 12 games.

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