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Mike Stoops wasn't going to let Arizona's stunning win over No. 2 Oregon linger.

Minutes after leaving the locker room following Thursday's 34-24 upset, the Wildcats' coach turned his attention to Arizona State.

"This is a good feeling," Stoops said, his voice hoarse. "Now it is time to start preparing for ASU, which is one of the most complete teams in the Pac-10."

With a win over the rival Sun Devils on Dec. 1, Arizona (5-6 overall, 4-4 Pac-10) can pull to .500, cap another improbable November run and, possibly, qualify for its first bowl game since 1998.

But the Wildcats' showdown with the Sun Devils won't come for another two weeks. For the next 14 days, we are stuck wondering which Arizona team will show up for the regular-season finale. Will it be the one that slogged to a 2-6 start and lost to both New Mexico and Stanford — or the one that has rallied for another November comeback? Will the Wildcats play free and loose like they did in the first half of Thursday's game — or hold on for dear life like they did in the second?

We're not sure. As the Wildcats count down to their season finale, we'll give you 14 reasons to believe anything can happen.

Seven reasons why Arizona can beat Arizona State — and possibly go to a bowl game:

1. The UA is hot. It has won consecutive Pac-10 games against Washington, UCLA and No. 2 Oregon and — dating back to last year — is 6-1 in November.

2. The Wildcats are healthy. USC quarterback John David Booty, Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon, Cal quarterback Nate Longshore, Washington quarterback Jake Locker, Arizona State running back Ryan Torain and UCLA tailback Kahlil Bell have all missed time this season with injuries.

Meanwhile, Arizona's stars — notably, quarterback Willie Tuitama, linebacker Spencer Larsen and cornerback Antoine Cason — have remained injury-free. The Cats' health could give them an edge in Tempe, where the injury bug usually bites extra hard. Arizona lost five regulars, including Tuitama, in the 2005 loss there.

3. Arizona State is a bit banged up. Torain is likely done for the season with a Lisfranc foot injury, and quarterback Rudy Carpenter has been slowed by a sprained thumb. How Carpenter's thumb responds to a bye week — and how he plays against USC on Thanksgiving Day — will tell a lot about the Devils' chances.

4. The Wildcats will be comfortable as underdogs. "The Duel in the Desert" has been a good game for underdogs: The UA upset ASU in Tempe in 2001 and at home against the 18th-ranked Sun Devils in 2004. Likewise, the Devils pulled off wins at Arizona in 2000 and 2006.

Records don't mean as much — "It doesn't matter. It's irrelevant," UA coach Mike Stoops has said — as motivation. And the Wildcats will have everything going for them.

5. Cason is peaking. The Wildcats' star defensive back has been one of the team's best players all season, but his play of late has been stunning. Cason has registered two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and had a punt return for a touchdown in Arizona's recent three-game streak. He's also been named a semifinalist for the Thorpe, Lott and Bednarik awards. Another solid game would make Cason a shoo-in for All-American honors.

"He really showed why he should be an All-American," Stoops said. "It's hard for players to get the recognition when their team is losing, but he showed what he is capable of (Thursday)."

6. Arizona's offense is streaking. So what if Arizona's offense only accounted for two offensive touchdowns in Thursday's win? The Wildcats average 391.5 yards — and 29 points — per game.

7. December danger. Arizona's November prowess is matched only by its success in December. Arizona is 2-0 in the last decade in December, defeating Nebraska 23-20 in the 1998 Holiday Bowl and New Mexico 20-14 in the 1997 Insight.com Bowl. Since 1976, the Wildcats are 5-4-1 in games played after Dec. 1.

Seven reasons why they won't:

1. Recent history. The UA was in a similar position last season. A win over Arizona State in the regular-season finale could have vaulted the Cats to a 7-5 record and a berth in possibly the Las Vegas, Emerald or Hawaii bowls. Arizona came out flat and lost 28-14 and, at 6-6, was left out.

2. Ancient history. Arizona has won its final four regular-season games just four times in the last 50 years. Jim LaRue's 1960 team won its final six games, and his 1961 team won its final four. Jim Young's team pulled off four in a row in 1974, and Dick Tomey's 1998 team won six in a row before beating Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. Arizona's "Desert Swarm" teams never won two games in a row in November.

3. ASU's success at home. Arizona State has won three of its last four games over Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium. The Wildcats' 2001 win in Tempe caused such a stir that the teams brawled afterward.

4. The Devils will probably have more to play for. They could be in a position to make a Bowl Championship Series game with wins over USC and Arizona. ASU hasn't finished a season ranked in the top eight since 1996.

5. ASU's defense shows up. The Air Zona offense likely doesn't strike fear into the hearts of the Devils' defenders. ASU is second in the Pac-10 in pass defense and scoring defense and third in total defense. The Sun Devils jumped into the Pac-10 lead in turnover margin (plus-6) when Oregon melted down Thursday.

6. The Erickson Edge. Dennis Erickson, the Sun Devils' first-year coach, has practically owned Arizona dating back to his time at Oregon State. Erickson-coached teams have won their last four games against the UA by a combined score of 137-35. Erickson understands the need to beat — and pound — one's rival, unlike former coach Dirk Koetter.

7. Because it's Arizona! Face it, Arizona fans have adopted a fatalistic approach to their hometown football team. The Wildcats have never been to a Rose Bowl, notoriously squandering most opportunities to make a splash nationally. But, hey, anything can happen.