The Arizona State Sun Devils try to become bowl eligible this Friday, when they take on long-time rival the Arizona Wildcats in the annual battle for the Territorial Cup. The prize is recognized by the NCAA as the longest-standing traveling trophy for a rivalry game. The Wildcats got the best of the Sun Devils last season, and lead the all-time series by a count of 44-33-1. Arizona, however, enters the game on a down note following a 38-14 setback to Washington on November 12th. The loss snapped a brief two game winning streak by the Wildcats, who fell to 3-7 overall and 3-4 in Pac-10 Conference play. As for Arizona State, it also had a two-game win streak halted on November 12th in a 45-35 setback to nationally-ranked UCLA. Now at an even 5-5, the Sun Devils need to win this game to earn bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season.
The Wildcats have been nothing special on offense this season and come into the game averaging 23.2 ppg on a modest 348.7 total ypg. The unit is rushing for 117.8 ypg and throwing for 230.9 ypg, with 18 of its 28 touchdowns coming via the pass. Arizona, however, has shot itself in the foot from time to time, as evidenced by its 27 turnovers. In their last game, the Wildcats committed three turnovers and were held to just 322 total yards in a 38-14 loss to Washington. Willie Tuitama has had a fair amount of success since taking over as starting quarterback, although he did account for three picks in the UW game. Still, he completed 22-of-41 pass attempts for 235 yards and two scores. In four appearances this season, Tuitama has thrown for 956 yards with eight touchdowns against four interceptions. Mike Thomas has been his receiver of choice, leading the team with 52 receptions for 771 yards and five touchdowns. While Tuitama and Thomas have had success at times, there has been no player on the roster more consistent than running back Mike Bell. Although he was held to just 37 rushing yards by Washington, Bell has still had a productive season, leading the team with 835 rushing yards behind a 4.8 ypc average.
Defensively, the Wildcats haven't been all that bad, although they are giving up an average of 412.8 total ypg. Despite allowing 189.8 rushing ypg and 223.0 passing ypg, the team has been able to limit its foes to 26.7 ppg. Arizona, however, is coming off a poor effort against Washington in which the defense gave up 490 total yards, including a whopping 333 yards on the ground. The unit recorded just one turnover and two sacks in the loss, while giving up 21 first downs. Darrell Brooks paced the Wildcats in defeat with 12 stops. He has clearly been the club's most productive player on the defensive side of the ball, as his 86 stops are 30 more than his next closest teammate.
Arizona State possesses one of the premier offenses in the nation, averaging 37.4 ppg and 518.1 total ypg. The team has had most of its success through the air, throwing for an impressive 376.8 ypg with 34 touchdowns. In their most recent outing, the Sun Devils threw for 334 yards and rushed for 181 more but it wasn't enough in a 10-point loss to UCLA. Rudy Carpenter led the team in defeat by throwing for 334 yards and three scores on 27-of-37 passing. He has done an excellent job in replacing injured starter Sam Keller, as he has completed 73.7 percent of his tosses for 1,560 yards with 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Derek Hagan has certainly made things easier for him and is coming off a solid effort against UCLA in which he pulled in seven balls for 97 yards and a score. Hagan has been one of the most productive wideouts in the Pac-10 this year and leads the Sun Devils with 68 receptions for 1,066 yards and eight scores. As for the ground attack, it is paced by the duo of Keegan Herring and Rudy Burgess, who have rushed for 771 and 459 yards, respectively. Burgess has also been used heavily in the pass game, as he ranks second on the team in catches with 50.
The main reason why Arizona State is not among the elite teams in the Pac-10 is its defense, which is allowing 29.9 ppg and 471.6 total ypg. The unit has struggled against both the run (183.5 ypg) and the pass (288.1 ypg), although it has forced 24 turnovers thus far. In the recent loss to UCLA, the Sun Devil defense was exploited all day, getting torched for a staggering 660 yards, 510 of which came through the air. The unit gave up 23 first downs in the game, while allowing the Bruins to convert 8-of-12 third down attempts. Dale Robinson put together another sensational effort in the loss, as he posted 14 tackles. With the effort, Robinson now has 102 stops on the season to go along with 14 TFLs and four sacks.
BET ID=35568884
Straight Wager 11/25/05 00:01 ET
100.00/90.91 Result: Pending
Arizona
ArizonaSt 11/25/05 (15:05 ET)
Over 60.5
The Wildcats have been nothing special on offense this season and come into the game averaging 23.2 ppg on a modest 348.7 total ypg. The unit is rushing for 117.8 ypg and throwing for 230.9 ypg, with 18 of its 28 touchdowns coming via the pass. Arizona, however, has shot itself in the foot from time to time, as evidenced by its 27 turnovers. In their last game, the Wildcats committed three turnovers and were held to just 322 total yards in a 38-14 loss to Washington. Willie Tuitama has had a fair amount of success since taking over as starting quarterback, although he did account for three picks in the UW game. Still, he completed 22-of-41 pass attempts for 235 yards and two scores. In four appearances this season, Tuitama has thrown for 956 yards with eight touchdowns against four interceptions. Mike Thomas has been his receiver of choice, leading the team with 52 receptions for 771 yards and five touchdowns. While Tuitama and Thomas have had success at times, there has been no player on the roster more consistent than running back Mike Bell. Although he was held to just 37 rushing yards by Washington, Bell has still had a productive season, leading the team with 835 rushing yards behind a 4.8 ypc average.
Defensively, the Wildcats haven't been all that bad, although they are giving up an average of 412.8 total ypg. Despite allowing 189.8 rushing ypg and 223.0 passing ypg, the team has been able to limit its foes to 26.7 ppg. Arizona, however, is coming off a poor effort against Washington in which the defense gave up 490 total yards, including a whopping 333 yards on the ground. The unit recorded just one turnover and two sacks in the loss, while giving up 21 first downs. Darrell Brooks paced the Wildcats in defeat with 12 stops. He has clearly been the club's most productive player on the defensive side of the ball, as his 86 stops are 30 more than his next closest teammate.
Arizona State possesses one of the premier offenses in the nation, averaging 37.4 ppg and 518.1 total ypg. The team has had most of its success through the air, throwing for an impressive 376.8 ypg with 34 touchdowns. In their most recent outing, the Sun Devils threw for 334 yards and rushed for 181 more but it wasn't enough in a 10-point loss to UCLA. Rudy Carpenter led the team in defeat by throwing for 334 yards and three scores on 27-of-37 passing. He has done an excellent job in replacing injured starter Sam Keller, as he has completed 73.7 percent of his tosses for 1,560 yards with 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Derek Hagan has certainly made things easier for him and is coming off a solid effort against UCLA in which he pulled in seven balls for 97 yards and a score. Hagan has been one of the most productive wideouts in the Pac-10 this year and leads the Sun Devils with 68 receptions for 1,066 yards and eight scores. As for the ground attack, it is paced by the duo of Keegan Herring and Rudy Burgess, who have rushed for 771 and 459 yards, respectively. Burgess has also been used heavily in the pass game, as he ranks second on the team in catches with 50.
The main reason why Arizona State is not among the elite teams in the Pac-10 is its defense, which is allowing 29.9 ppg and 471.6 total ypg. The unit has struggled against both the run (183.5 ypg) and the pass (288.1 ypg), although it has forced 24 turnovers thus far. In the recent loss to UCLA, the Sun Devil defense was exploited all day, getting torched for a staggering 660 yards, 510 of which came through the air. The unit gave up 23 first downs in the game, while allowing the Bruins to convert 8-of-12 third down attempts. Dale Robinson put together another sensational effort in the loss, as he posted 14 tackles. With the effort, Robinson now has 102 stops on the season to go along with 14 TFLs and four sacks.
BET ID=35568884
Straight Wager 11/25/05 00:01 ET
100.00/90.91 Result: Pending
Arizona
ArizonaSt 11/25/05 (15:05 ET)
Over 60.5
