There is a lot of hype surrounding the state of Arizona this year. Can the Herm Edwards team take the long-awaited step?
There have been a few thrilling moments along the way, but the Sun Devils have been mostly mediocre during Edwards’ tenure so far. In his three years, ASU is 17-13 overall with a rating of 11-11 in the Pac-12 game.
The state of Arizona – like so many others – has seen its 2020 season derailed by COVID-19. After opening the year with a heart-wrenching one-point loss to USC on November 7, the Sun Devils only returned to action on December 5. That game was a 25-18 loss to UCLA. ASU then ended the season by beating rivals Arizona 70-7 and beating Oregon State 46-33.
There has been a return to normal this offseason – at least for a while. Arizona state is engulfed in NCAA investigation amid allegations its coaches brought prospects to campus when tours were banned amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This investigation led to the administrative leave of several assistant coaches.
There’s a lot to like about the Sun Devils roster, but will the persistent investigation and coaching staff reshuffle affect ASU’s season? Arizona State is one of three Pac-12 South teams with a total of 8.5 preseason wins at BetMGM.
Arizona State has one of the best quarterbacks in the Pac-12 at Jayden Daniels. Now in his third season as a starter, Daniels has shown huge potential with 17 touchdowns and just two interceptions as a true rookie in 2019. He also showed his rushing ability in 2020, when he rushed for 223 yards and four touchdowns in just four games.
ASU has two exciting RBs, Rachaad White and Deamonte Trayanum, in the backfield with Daniels, but the receiving body has not been proven successful. On the other hand, high school is a perceived force and there is a lot of experience coming back to linebacker. However, the running defense has really struggled in 2020. ASU also hasn’t reached QB too many times in recent years.
If a few wide receivers break away from the pack and the defense takes a step forward, this could be the year ASU wins the South – despite stiff competition from USC, Utah and UCLA. .
The state of Arizona has the advantage of a simple schedule without a conference. ASU opens the year at home against Southern Utah and UNLV before heading to BYU. BYU should be a good team, but nowhere near as good as the team led by Zach Wilson from 2020.
From a conference schedule perspective, ASU drew Stanford, Washington State, Washington State and Oregon State from the Pac-12 North. While the Stanford and WSU games are at home, the Washington and Oregon State games are on the road for two consecutive weeks in November. ASU will almost certainly be the favorite at Corvallis, but this trip to Seattle will be one of the biggest tests of the year.
In division, UCLA and Utah games are on the road while USC heads to Tempe. These three games are draws, just like the Washington game. These are your four most losing games.
If you consider the quality of the Pac-12 South and some of the issues surrounding ASU – both on and off the pitch – 8.5 seems like the perfect number. Personally, I would lean at the very least with 8-4 as the most likely outcome.
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