Share of Pac-12 South lead on line for ASU
A share of first place in the Pac-12 South will be on the line as the Arizona State football team heads to Utah for a showdown against the defending South champion Utah which comes in ranked 13th in one national poll and 14th in the other.
No. 17 ASU (5-1, 2-1) holds the overall series lead 22-8 which includes a 38-20 upset last season in Tempe. Utah (5-1, 2-1) has won six of 10 games played in Salt Lake City, however.
Arizona State’s lone loss this season came at home against Colorado (34-31) while Utah’s loss was on the road at USC (30-23).
The game will kick off at 3 p.m. TV: Pac-12 Network. Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 (KMVP-FM).
3 things to look for
1. How will the young ASU offensive line hold up against experienced Utah defensive line? The Sun Devils are starting two true freshman on the offensive line in RG Dohnovan West and LT LaDarius Henderson while the Utah defensive line will feature three seniors, two of which could have declared (DT Leki Fotu, DE Bradlee Anae) for the NFL draft last year but opted to return. The Sun Devils made some progress up front now that they have started the same five with senior Cohl Cabral back at center. Still, ASU has given up 16 sacks, more than any other team in the conference except for California (21).
2. Can ASU win the turnover battle? To win big games against higher-ranked foes on the road a team typically need a break or two. ASU has nine fumble recoveries this season, tied for most in the conference but it has only two interceptions, tied for the fewest of any team. Utah ranks eighth nationally and second in the Pac-12 in turnover margin.
3. Will ASU be able to run the ball? The Utes are allowing a miniscule 52.8 yards rushing per game. ASU has a topnotch running back in junior Eno Benjamin who is coming off a season-best 136 yard effort against Washington State but the Sun Devils haven’t been able to run the ball consistently this season. If they have trouble again, it will put all the more pressure on QB Jayden Daniels.
About Utah
The Utes have the longest tenured coach in the conference in Kyle Whittingham (15th season), who boasts an overall record of 125-62 which includes an impressive mark of 11-2 in bowl games. Utah is one of two teams in the conference that has never won the Pac-12 title, the other being Colorado. It’s last conference title of any kind came in the Mountain West in 2007. Utah is 36-40 against Pac-12 teams as a conference member and 112-158-6 alltime against Pac-12 schools. Whittingham did have a notable change on his coaching this season, bringing in Andy Ludwig as offensive coordinator. This season the Utes returned seven starters on offense, the top veterans being QB Tyler Huntley and RB Zack Moss, both potent playmakers. One of the team’s trademarks is defense. It comes in ranked second nationally in rushing defense (52.8 ypg) and 10th in overall defense (271.5 ypg).
Star power
Brandon Aiyuk, Sr., WR, Arizona State: The 6-foot-1, 206-pounder has emerged as a big play threat on offense as well as special teams. He has 31 receptions for 651 yards and five touchdowns and is coming off a career-high 196-yard game in last week’s 38-34 win over Washington State. He ranks ninth individually among FBS receivers for yards and 18th in yards per catch (21.0).
Jaylon Johnson, Sr., DB, Utah: The 6-foot, 195-pound senior is noted as a lockdown corner. So far this season he has 20 tackles, one interception and seven break-ups.
Injury report
Arizona State: Freshman DB Cameron Phillips (hamstring) was slowed by a dislocated elbow the last two weeks but also strained a hamstring in Saturday’s game and practiced only lightly this week
Utah: Junior WR Britain Covey (ACL) is out indefinitely.
Trending
0 — Number of teams with a winning record that Utah has played this season. Some might have been above .500 when they played but none hold winning records now, six games into their season.
8 — Number of games ASU has played that have been decided by four points or less in the Herm Edwards era (19 games). ASU’s six wins in games of four points or less (6-2) is tied with Nevada for the best in college football the past two seasons.
27 -— Number of points allowed by the Utah defense in the second half over six games this season.
34 — Number of consecutive games in which senior Kyle Williams has at least one reception. It’s the sixth-longest streak in ASU history.
424 — Yards after the catch by senior wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. That is second among all FBS receivers. He has forced 11 missed tackles this year — good for fourth in the nation.
Bottom line
This isn’t as a game ASU is expected to win as evidenced by the nearly twotouchdown spread favoring the Utes. Nonetheless it is a key game with Utah and ASU among the four teams that go into the game tied for first place in the Pac-12 South. The other two (USC and Arizona) will also be going head to head this week. The Sun Devils have been competitive in every game though and will probably need a break or two come away with a win here.
Prediction
Utah 24, ASU 17: This will be perhaps the toughest road test for ASU this season and the weather elements (cold, raining) won’t be in the Sun Devils’ favor. This is a good, senior-laden team that a young Sun Devils team will be facing.