Sun Devil, Pat Gammill
By Pat Gammil (SunDevilPat) for DieHardDevil.com
It’s time for my weekly fan prediction of how I think our Sun Devils will do in their Halloween game tonight against the Washington State.
The Cougars threw over 90 passes against the Oregon Ducks in their last game, including all 28 plays of the fourth quarter. The ASU defensive backs will be tested big time by Connor Halliday. Yes, the same Connor Halliday who torched the Devils two years ago in Pullman.
The good news is that Halliday throws A LOT of interceptions, so the ASU defenders need to be ready when he throws it their way. No missed opportunities because we dropped an interception tonight. It would also be nice to see the Sun Devil pass rush show up in Pullman to apply plenty of pressure, like they did in Tempe against the Washington Huskies a couple weeks ago. The one thing that could get ASU beat tomorrow night is turning the ball over 3 or more times.
* * *
ASU’s offense has been rolling lately, and there is no reason to think it won’t continue tonight. The Sun Devils have put up video game numbers the last four games, scoring 62 against USC, 34 in a loss to Notre Dame, 54 against Colorado (47 in the first half), and 53 points against a very good Washington team.
ASU has also really begun to run the football well as they did against Colorado and Washington. I don’t expect ASU to rush for 300 yards like they did against the Huskies, but I do expect the Sun Devils to rush for at least 200 yards.
Taylor Kelly needs to be efficient again with his passing by spreading the ball around. D.J. Foster and Jaelen Strong are nicked up right now, so get the ball to Kevin Ozier, Chris Coyle, Marion Grice and Deantre Lewis. Make good decisions with the football and hold the turnovers down to no more than one. If that happens, I think ASU wins, and wins big.
#ForLife
The one thing that could get ASU beat tomorrow night is turning the ball over 3 or more times. If the Devils hang on to the football, they will win the game because they are the much better team.
* * *
As far as the Cougar defense, they have been torched by some of the Pac-12 big boys. Stanford put 55 on WSU, Oregon State scored 52, and Oregon rolled up 62 yards on the Cougars. I think ASU can and will score plenty of points.
This is a big game for both teams. WSU is trying to get bowl eligible (currently 4-4 on the season) and beating ASU would give them a great chance to get to a bowl game in Coach Leach’s second season.
* * *
This game is big for ASU and their ranking in the polls since the Devils are in the top-25 for the third time this season. ASU was ranked after the Wisconsin game only to lose to Stanford the very next week. Then, ASU was ranked following the crushing of USC, only to lose to Notre Dame in Dallas the next week. Hell, how can you not like the Sun Devils on Halloween night?
It’s time for ASU to prove they can win on the road, when they are a ranked team. ASU has also always had difficulty winning in Pullman. Even when they win there, it tends to be a tough game or an “ugly” win (see the 2009 game in which ASU turned it over 6 times and still won 27-14 over a terrible WSU team).
With all that being said, I like ASU to win a tough game tonight. Look for the Devils to break open a close game in the second half. I like the Sun Devils to get their first road win of the season on Halloween night. Hell, how can you not like the Sun Devils on Halloween night? ASU 41 Washington State 27…Go Sun Devils!
Comments are closed.
