Tempe, AZ – ASU (1-0) squares off against 20th ranked Wisconsin (2-0) tonight in what will be the first in a series of big, physical tests this season for the Devils. Bragging rights, a top-20 ranking, conference pride, and national perception are on the line in front of a national ESPN audience. 

ASU vs Wisconsin at Sun Devil Stadium.

The Badgers will bring their typical smash-mouth running game to Tempe, along with some new offensive wrinkles. ASU will counter with peak physical conditioning and  speed on both sides of the ball. 

Neither team has been tested to this point in the season, and it is safe to say that neither has opened their respective playbooks beyond the first page.

Wisconsin Offense

The Badger offense is universally recognized as a “line-up, and hit you in the mouth” system stocked full of excellent running backs and mammoth O-lineman.

Wisconsin is going to pound the ball between the tackles and get their guards on the ASU LB’s and safeties which allows their 3-headed RB committee to find holes and explode for big gains. After two games, running backs James White, Melvin Gordon, and Corey Clement have all rushed for at least 250 yards each. The plan is to rotate these guys to keep them all fresh throughout the game. 
 
UW will always be a run-first offense, but my prediction is that we will see the Badgers attempt to exploit LB’s and safeties who over-commit to stuffing inside runs by calling plenty of play-action passes. 

On the same token, if the Devil defenders pinch the outsides and lose contain, we will see Wisco exploit those vacated ends for big running gains around the corner using an unfamiliar zone read scheme. The ASU defense is athletic enough to run with anyone in the country, but all the speed in the world can’t make up for missed assignments and undisciplined gap integrity. 

Wisconsin Defense

The Badgers have a new 3-4 defensive scheme under Coach Anderson that probably hasn’t shown it’s true capability against inferior teams, but still have yet to allow a point in two games. 

My thought is that a new scheme with personnel who may not have been recruited to play it will be over-matched and yield massive offensive numbers for ASU. Conversely, without film of all the new wrinkles and a shaky O-line performance by the Devils last week, we may see Kelly disrupted by stunting and blitzes that may force turnovers and big plays for Wisconsin. 

At the end of the day, if ASU executes its offense, there are just too many weapons and too much speed for the Badgers to contain. I expect to see them play the pass first and dare ASU to establish its running game as their only hope to neutralize the ASU offensive attack.

ASU Offense

Taylor Kelly picked up right where he left off from last season throwing 23/31 for 5 TD’s and 300 yards in just over two quarters. Combine his efficiency with an influx of new explosive talent on offense, and you have the makings of Sparky doing more than a few push-ups. 

The key for ASU will be establishing any type of run game, which may be difficult against a big and talented Wisconsin front seven. One thing is sure, the usual open space in the flat and behind linebackers will NOT carry its customary “vacancy” sign if the Badgers don’t respect the running game and play “pass first”. 

The Devils have way too many home-run threats that like to work in those spaces vacated by defenses defending the run. I expect the ASU O-line to accept this challenge and open a few holes for Marion Grice and DJ Foster which will allow the Devil aerial assault to do what it does best…launch the fireworks.

Chris Young and the ASU defense have a tough test on Saturday night.

ASU Defense

Much has been made since spring about Coach Graham’s focus on improving ASU’s 81st ranked run defense from 2012, and that commitment will be put to the ultimate test against Wisconsin. 

Last week, we saw ASU predominantly in their 3-3-5 stack defense with some glaringly obvious alignment changes for much of the game which could very well have been an intentional disguise to limit game film for Wisconsin. 

Chris Young, who played the Spur LB/Safety hybrid position exclusively last season has been moved to the Will LB position to beef up the rush defense. 

I’m predicting that we see more personnel changes to bigger and more efficient run-stoppers in the ASU front 7 (at least for the next 2 weeks). Having missed Stanford on the schedule last season, ASU has not seen a true “downhill” running game with Coach Graham’s “hybrid” defense. 

Ultimately, conditioning, weather, substitution patterns for the ASU front 7, and an ability to force the Badgers into passing situations will be huge factors in containing an offense capable of putting up big offensive numbers and lighting up the scoreboard. 

ASU’s signature on defense has been its ability to pressure the opposing QB and force bad decisions resulting in tackles for loss and turnovers. That won’t happen if the Badgers don’t have to throw it.
 
History has shown that the BIG-10 has had VERY limited success against ASU in Tempe, and Sun Devil Nation is hoping to keep that streak alive. At the end of the day, this will NOT be a defensive struggle. Wisconsin will have success on the ground, and ASU will find its success in the air. There will be big plays on both sides of the ball. Conditioning, weather, sheer will, injuries, special teams, and momentum-shifting big plays will determine this one. 

ASU wins. I’ll be there, and let’s black this thing out.  

                    Visit the ASU vs Wisconsin Game Day Page