ASU FOOTBALL AT COLORADO
Arizona State (3-2, 1-1 Pac-12) takes a third stab at its first road win of the season, this time against Colorado (4-0, 1-0), the lone remaining unbeaten team in the conference, at Folsom Field in Boulder.
ASU's most recent road win was November 2017 at Oregon State. The Sun Devils were 2-4 in road/neutral games last season including a loss to North Carolina State in the Sun Bowl. Since 2015, ASU is 4-16 in road and neutral games.
Colorado is 4-0 for the first time since 1998 with wins over Colorado State (45-13), at Nebraska (33-28), FCS New Hampshire (45-14) and UCLA (38-16). Those opponents are a combined 1-16.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MST. TV: Pac-12 Networks. Radio: KMVP Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.
3 things to watch?
1. What will Eno Benjamin do for an encore?
The ASU sophomore running back put himself on the national radar last week with his school-record 312 yards, the most in FBS this season. But it came against Oregon State, No. 127 nationally in rush defense. Colorado is considerably better against the run (No. 65) starting with NT Javier Edwards and LB Nate Landman. Benjamin has three 100-yard games and is No. 10 nationally in rushing yards per game (119) on a team now seemingly resolute about establishing the run. 2. Is Colorado for real?
Undoubtedly some Buffs fans are even wondering about this given Colorado's strength of schedule (No. 121 Sagarin) and fall from a 3-0 start in 2017 to a 5-7 finish including a 41-30 loss at ASU. The only win by a Colorado opponent so far is Colorado State over Arkansas, which is struggling at 1-4. The Buffs likely are somewhere between their 2016 version (10-4) and last season, but where on the scale remains to be determined. 3. Can ASU handle Buffs' offensive balance?
Colorado is No. 20 nationally in total offense, averaging more than 200 yards per game rushing and passing. That's the most balanced opponent ASU has faced although again the Buffs' caliber of competition inflates their success. In this game and beyond, the Sun Devils must be better against the run after allowing an average of 247.6 over the past three games. "Giving up 254 yards rushing to any running back (Oregon State's Jermar Jefferson) is embarrassing," ASU defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales said. "They’ve been hearing it all week. It will be fixed."
About Colorado
Coach Mike MacIntyre, in his sixth season, is a modest 29-38, but it's worth remembering that the Buffs had seven consecutive losing seasons before his arrival from San Jose State and were a combined 4-21 under Jon Embree in their first two Pac-12 seasons (2011-12). The breakthrough Pac-12 South title season in 2016 netted MacIntrye a new five-year contract through 2021 that gives him a chance to become Colorado's longest tenured coach since Bill McCartney (1982-94).
Star power
Eno Benjamin. The 5-10 sophomore running back has handled his success with trademark humility so there's no reason to think he won't be focused a week after become ASU's first 300-yard, single-game rusher. Now, though, he's a huge target for game planning and defenders so the stakes are raised for the offensive line, Benjamin and offensive coordinator Rob Likens to make the magic continue.
Laviska Shenault. Colorado WR Shenault has jumped from 168 yards total as a true freshman in 2017 to the national leader in receiving yards per game (145.3) and receptions per game (9.5). He opened the season with a combined 21 catches for 388 yards vs. Colorado State and Nebraska. The 6-2 sophomore (38 catches, 581 yards and four touchdowns) from DeSoto, Texas, holds a statistical receiving edge on ASU star WR N'Keal Harry (31/419/5).
Trending
0 – ASU has allowed no quarterback sacks in consecutive games for the first time since 2005 and third overall this season. The Sun Devils have never kept their QB clean for three straight games.
1 – Colorado has a single victory over ASU, 40-16 in 2016. Despite their relative proximity, the schools did not play in football until 2006. ASU leads the series 8-1.
3 – ASU is facing a third nationally ranked opponent in the first six weeks of the season for the first time since 1995, when it played four AP top-25 teams out of the first six. The Sun Devils also played three ranked teams before Oct. 7 in 1980.
372 – ASU safety DeMonte King has been on the field for 372 total plays, most in the Pac-12 on defense. "It makes me a little nervous because if something happens to him, we don't have anybody back there with experience behind him," Gonzales said.
Bottom line
ASU has played three teams ranked higher (Sagarin) than any of Colorado's opponents including a split vs. No. 10 Washington and No. 19 Michigan State. But is the more tested team capable of winning on the road at altitude (chance for rain now is slight)? Buffs QB Steven Montez (No. 19 nationally total offense) is a veteran like ASU's Manny Wilkins (No. 36) so don't expect either to be easily rattled. This feels like the right time to take a chance on the Sun Devils (2 1/2-point underdog) because of their evolving identity as a ball-control team.
Prediction
ASU 35, Colorado 28.