Cameron Marshall has a chance to be a big change-of-pace to the Devils air attack. (Courtesy: AP)

‘Tis the night before Sun Devil football and all through the Carson Center, there’s a quiet anticipation.

Or not so quiet. I’m sure there’s some screaming, pacing and fidgeting going on within the bowels of Sun Devil Stadium.

I know that’s what’s going on in my apartment and the homes of thousands of you throughout Pitchfork Nation.

In just under 36 hours, the endless talk, criticism and hype will end – foot will meet pigskin and 2010 will be underway. The Sun Devils, clad in Maroon & Gold, will finally line up against an opponent wearing a different helmet. The tackles will count and the score will matter.

But with so many questions still surrounding this football team going into tomorrow’s opener with Portland State, the season’s opening two games provide a platform to iron out wrinkles.

It all starts and ends under center, where Steven Threet will get his first start since 2008. I don’t expect the offensive playbook to be totally exposed against the likes of Portland State and Northern Arizona, but now that Dennis Erickson and Noel Mazzone have a heady, confident quarterback at the helm, creative playcalling will return to the agenda for the Sun Devils.

It will be interesting to see at what point and in which situations Brock Osweiler will make his first appearance. One thing I’m nearly sure of is that it will definitely be before the 4th quarter. Even if tomorrow’s game isn’t a blowout, I expect to see Brock taking snaps as early as the 2nd quarter. There’s nothing to base that on; it’s just a hunch. The Threet/Osweiler decision wasn’t based on lack of trust – both guys performed admirably during camp and both have a firm grasp of this offense.

Plus, Osweiler is past the point of mop-up duty. He’s started in big games and led the Devils in tough spots. He’ll play and he’ll play early.

Meanwhile, I’ll be curious to see just how much of a factor Cameron Marshall is in this new offense. Marshall is a dangerous weapon out of the backfield when used appropriately, but in what seems to be a football version of Seven Seconds or Less, room to run the ball may be at a premium.

What the Devils might consider is how Texas Tech used Baron Batch in 2008, when the Red Raiders made their dramatic run to the top of the polls. Certainly, their spread offense revolved around Graham Harrell, Michael Crabtree and Danny Amendola, but Batch and Shannon Woods paced their running attack. Most fans don’t even remember that those two combined for over 1,400 rushing yards in an offense based around a strong air attack.

Depth obviously remains an issue on the defensive line thanks to ineligibility and injury, which makes personnel an issue going into tomorrow. The question there lies in the rotation – will the Devils try to plug gaps in a standard four-man front? Or will we see shades of the 30-front that has been floated throughout the offseason? With the depth that Arizona State boasts at linebacker right now, there’s certainly a reason to have as many talented LBs on the field as possible, especially considering their speed.

But the questions will be answered. I can’t guarantee that we’ll necessarily like the answers, at least early on, but one thing is clear.

Football is one day away.