The Devils enter the second week of the College Football Playoff Rankings at #9. No one needs to mention that every game the Devils play from here on out is important but there are plenty of other games that will have an impact on where ASU plays their post season. Without further adieu lets do a run-through of what’s in the Devils’ best interest on Saturday.

#10 Notre Dame at #9 Arizona State

That’s right, the Devils have jumped the Irish in the national rankings. Fans have been waiting for this one all year. This match-up is what so many fans have been waiting for all year.  

This game is interesting for so many reasons. If the Devils win they would climb ever closer to a spot in the four-team college playoff.  However, in the race for the Pac 12 title, this game is inconsequential. A win or loss on Saturday will not change ASU’s position in the South. In essence, the Devils are playing with nothing to lose and everything to gain.  

ASU needs to come out with their hair on fire! Much of this team has revenge on their minds after dropping a heartbreaker to the Irish last year at Cowboy Stadium in Texas.  This is a statement game. If the Devils want the national recognition that they feel they deserve, this game is the answer.

Washington State at Oregon State

Nothing fun going on here. Neither of these teams in the North are competing for the championship.  Washington State lost their quarterback for the year and Oregon State is fighting for their post-season lives. These teams have a combined 6-11 record and it makes no difference at all to the Sun Devils who wins.

#18 UCLA at Washington

Tough game in Seattle here. Either way this looks good for the Devils. If UCLA wins and continues to climb in the rankings it makes the Devils loss to them not look so heinous.  If Washington wins it proves that they are a quality opponent, which is good for ASU since the Devils won in Seattle a few weeks ago. Just to be safe lets pull for the Huskies so that the Bruins get another conference loss and give the Devils a bit more breathing room in the Pac 12 South.

Colorado at #19 Arizona

Thank goodness the Cats finally lost last week at UCLA.  However, look for them to bounce back against the lowly Buffaloes of Colorado. The Buffs come to Tucson with a 2-7 record, but they have been very close to pulling out a win these past few weeks. Let’s hope that this week is the time that Colorado gets a breakthrough win for their program.  Unfortunately the Wildcats actually look pretty good this year, but hey, a man can dream. Go Buffs!

#4 Oregon at #17 Utah

This game is really tough to call.  On one hand we want Oregon to win and keep a Pac 12 team in the top four. On the other hand, a Utah victory would really help the Sun Devils strength of schedule.

I know it is dangerous to look ahead but as Sun Devil fans this is what we want to happen; we want Oregon to win and stay in the top four. A loss here by Utah actually gives the Devils a little wiggle room for the South division lead. We want Utah to lose but win the rest of their games. We really want a mad Utah team to steamroll Arizona in Salt Lake in a couple of weeks.  

#9

If the Devils keep winning and things break right then we could be looking at a Pac 12 Championship game of two top 6 teams in ASU and Oregon with the winner advancing to college football’s first playoff. It actually gives me goose bumps to put this in writing. In any case GO Ducks!

There you have it, this week is more about quality than quantity. See you in a sold-out Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday or at one of ASU’s many game watching parties across the country. #BeattheIrish