Rudy Carpenter is trying to put the recent past behind him.

“We can change everything in one week,” the senior quarterback said, still clearly stung by his team’s upset loss to UNLV last week.

The lingering taste of defeat to a 23-point underdog has left the newly unranked Sun Devils feeling angry.

It has also left critics around the country doubting the legitimacy of a program still trying to gain national recognition.

For the Sun Devils (2-1, 1-0 Pac-10), Saturday’s game against No. 3 Georgia – though it may not mean as much as it once did – offers a chance, as ASU’s quarterback suggests, to change everything.

“It’s an opportunity for us of course,” agreed coach Dennis Erickson. “It’s a game at home against one of the best teams in the country. It’s a huge opportunity for this football team and this program.”

While much of the hype surrounding what was supposed to be a marquee non-conference showdown has dissipated, the challenge the Bulldogs will present has not.

Led by sophomore running back Knowshon Moreno and junior quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Bulldogs will bring an offense far superior to any ASU has faced thus far in 2008.

Moreno has been a highlight reel-regular this season and Erickson knows it will take a great defensive effort to slow him down.

“I think more than anything he just breaks tackles,” Erickson said of the Georgia running back that has spun and hurdled his way to seven touchdowns this season. “You have to have guys who are all surrounding him, or else he’ll break it.”

Junior linebacker Mike Nixon likened Moreno to former elite Pac-10 running backs Marshawn Lynch and Jonathan Stewart.

“He’s one of those guys you can’t completely stop,” he said. “But you try to slow him down.”

The return of ASU’s junior linebacker Gerald Munns should aid in accomplishing this task.

Munns missed the UNLV game after having surgery on a broken pinky finger, but Erickson said he expects the linebacker to be in the lineup on Saturday.

Georgia’s quarterback will pose an equally imposing threat for the Sun Devils on defense.

Erickson said he is most impressed by Stafford’s arm strength.

“I’m not sure [how] they have him [scouted] in the National Football League, but he has a huge arm, probably as strong of an arm as I’ve seen in a long time,” Erickson said.

Despite the household names on offense, Carpenter believes Georgia’s strength is its defense.

The Sun Devils will have little chance to upset the Bulldogs if they do not improve their red-zone offense.

ASU has struggled to score touchdowns from near the goal line in every one of its games this season.

Junior running back Shaun DeWitty, who was one of few bright spots against UNLV last week, may be featured more in goal line situations.

“When we talk about the red zone and the goal line, he’s a guy that can add some things to us,” Erickson said.

Carpenter only attempted 23 passes, and he’ll likely have to throw more against the Bulldogs.

Georgia is giving up less than 60 yards per game on the ground, and while the Bulldogs are no slouch in the pass defense category, they have not yet faced a quarterback of Carpenter’s caliber.

Carpenter leads the Pac-10 in passing at 325 yards per game.

Senior running back Keegan Herring will likely be a game-time decision, and the Sun Devil offense would be greatly aided by his return from a lingering hamstring injury.

“The thing that Keegan can bring to our running game is that he can break the big one, hit the home run,” Erickson said. “We just didn’t do that [against UNLV].”

The Sun Devils will possibly face another challenge this week in addition to preparing for the speed and talent of the Bulldogs.

Saturday’s game had been billed all summer as a match-up of two undefeated top 15 teams. That’s not the case anymore.

As a result, the Sun Devils have had to shake off disappointment and provide their own motivation.

“For us, it’s [about] rebounding now, and that’s what we have to do,” Erickson said “We just happen to be playing an awfully good team coming in here on Saturday.”

Though the game may have lost some of its luster, it won’t make Sun Devil Stadium any more quiet on Saturday.

Every one of Sun Devil Stadium’s 71,706 seats has been paid for. That offers a grand stage for the Sun Devils, who, even before last week, was and remains the underdog.

Reach the reporter at nkosmide@asu.edu.