While this year’s Territorial Cup doesn’t have the national appeal of last year’s game, its importance within the state’s borders is undeniable.
Arizona State still needs a victory to secure a bowl bid and the Sun Devils would prefer it not come down to their finale. Defeating their hated rivals in their yard would just add to the pleasure.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Arizona State Sun Devils N/A
Arizona Wildcats N/A
Over/Under N/A
ODDS ANALYSIS
The line and total were off the board as oddsmakers await news on the status of Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon, who was concussed in last week’s game. It was the second concussion this season suffered by Solomon.
KEY MISMATCH
Arizona State running back Kalen Ballage rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns as the Sun Devils overcame a 17-point deficit to knock off Washington last week, to move within a win of bowl eligibility. Ballage is an absolute load to bring down and he’s heating up late in the season with 303 yards on 37 carries in his past three games. Pair him with fellow sophomore Demario Richard in the backfield and that’s two of the Pac-12’s top nine rushers in conference games. The Sun Devils can also bust out receiver D.J. Foster for some touches at his old position, too. ASU is feeling good following its comeback win over the Huskies and is likely to unleash that running strength this week. Arizona isn’t big up front and is down at least four key linebackers due to injury, including All-American Scooby Wright. The Sun Devils will rotate their backs to take advantage of the size mismatch up front with fresh ball carriers and will wear down the depleted Wildcats defense, which has had a tough time stopping anyone this season.
KEY STAT
34.2 – Arizona’s average points per game allowed. The Wildcats are next to last in the Pac-12 in scoring defense. Arizona State averages 31.0 points per game.
BETTING ANGLE
In a season that appeared destined for a 5-7 finish, the Wildcats pulled off an improbable overtime win over Utah last week and will go bowling once again. While Arizona was mired in a three-game losing streak, rumors of coach Rich Rodriguez bailing for head jobs in places like South Carolina or Virginia Tech were rampant. Since Rodriguez and Todd Graham joined the conference in 2012, the Sun Devils have gotten the better of the Wildcats in two of the three meetings. But the Wildcats won a crazy one last year at home and two of the three have been decided by a touchdown or less. So despite the lack of national implications, the game is certainly not without drama. The Sun Devils need one win to become bowl eligible and Arizona will do everything it can to deny them the chance this week in the Territorial Cup battle.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Arizona appeared headed to a lost season before its win over 10th-ranked Utah last week gave the team something to feel good about – and got them bowl eligible for the fourth straight year, a first in program history. But the status of quarterback Anu Solomon is in doubt after he suffered his second concussion of the NCAAF season, leaving him questionable for the Territorial Cup. That would be another blow for the Wildcats in a season filled with key injuries. But as the Utah game showed, there’s plenty of fight left in these bowl-bound Cats. Without Solomon, though, the Wildcats offense just isn’t as dynamic with Jerrard Randall. The Sun Devils have a chance at the daily double this week, getting bowl eligible and knocking off their rival in the Territorial Cup. Also a little payback is in store from last year when the Cats won to claim the Pac-12 South. ASU gets it all back against the banged up Wildcats.
Arizona State 34, Arizona 30
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