#20 Washington Huskies at Arizona State Sun Devils
Sun Devil Stadium – Tempe, Arizona
Saturday, October 19, 2013, 6:00 pm Eastern, TV: Pac 12 Network
Opening Line: Arizona State -3
Current Line: Arizona State -3 (-120)
Opening Total: 66
Current Total: 67
Opening Money Line: ASU -150 / Washington +130
Current Money Line: ASU -155 / Washington +135
Both the Washington Huskies and Arizona State Sun Devils are 4-2 this season as they meet Saturday in Tempe. The Huskies are 1-2 in the Pac 12 and Arizona State is 2-1 in conference. This is the 31st meeting between the schools with the series tied at 15. The Sun Devils lead the series 9-8 in Tempe, and ASU has won 7 straight overall against the Huskies. Arizona State won the last meeting 24-14 in Seattle in 2010.
Washington is coached by Steve Sarkisian. The Huskies started off the season with four straight wins but have since lost 2 straight. The Huskies have home wins over Boise State 38-6, Idaho State 56-0 and against Arizona 31-13. Washington also has a road win at Illinois 34-24. Washington lost at Stanford 31-28 and at home against Oregon 45-24 last week. The Huskies are 4-2 ATS and the total is 2-4 this season. Washington was an 11.5 point underdog against Oregon and the total was 75.5.
The Ducks and Huskies were tied at 7 at the end of the first quarter. However, Oregon took a 21-7 lead at halftime against Washington. The Huskies would pull within 21-14 and 31-24 but could never tie it up in the second half. Oregon added two fourth quarter touchdowns to make the final 45-24 but the game was really closer than that. Washington had 376 total yards including 194 rushing yards. Oregon had 631 total yards including 366 passing and 265 rushing. The Huskies had the only two turnovers of the game.
Washington is outscoring teams 35-20 this season. The Huskies are #35 in scoring and #25 in points allowed nationally. Washington is #8 nationally in total offense at 526.8 yards per game, with 278.8 passing yards (#31 nationally) and 248 rushing yards (#15). On defense, The Huskies are allowing 344.2 yards per game including 182.2 passing and 162 rushing yards. Washington is #20 in total defense and #16 against the pass. The Huskies are even in turnovers with 8 takeaways. Washington is averaging 86 penalty yards per game and opponents are averaging 57. The Huskies are 55/101 on third and fourth down conversions, and opponents are 46/116. Washington has forced 16 sacks and allowed 12. The Huskies are 25/29 scoring in the red zone with 21 touchdowns, and opponents are 15/20 with 11 touchdowns. Washington has allowed one kick return for a touchdown.
Quarterback Keith Price has completed 69.3% of his passes for 1,576 yards with 12 touchdowns and 4 interceptions along with 38 carries for 60 yards and a rushing touchdown. Running back Bishop Sankey has 159 carries, 899 yards and 9 touchdowns, along with 14 catches 134 yards and a touchdown. Jesse Callier has 28 carries, 170 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 7 catches for 48 yards. Dwayne Washington has 27 carries, 116 yards and a touchdown, along with a touchdown catch. Receiver Kevin Smith has 24 catches for 389 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kasen Williams has 24 catches for 374 yards and a touchdown. Jaydon Mickens has 34 catches, 323 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins has 16 catches, 185 yards and 3 touchdowns. Joshua Perkins has only 3 catches, but 2 went for touchdowns. Two defensive backs are questionable Saturday.
Ariz0na State is coached by Todd Graham. The Sun Devils have home wins over Sacramento State 55-50, Wisconsin 32-30, USC 62-41 and last week against Colorado 54-13. Arizona State has a road loss at Stanford 42-28 and against Notre Dame 37-34 in Arlington Texas. The Sun Devils are 3-3 ATS and the total is 5-1 this season. ASU easily covered the 28.5 point spread against Colorado and the game barely stayed under the 68.5 point total.
Arizona State jumped out to a 25-0 first quarter lead against Colorado, and would expand the lead to 47-6 at halftime. The two teams exchanged touchdowns in the second half to make the final 54-13. Amazingly, in a game with 53 first half points it stayed under the total. ASU had 532 total yards including 276 rushing yards. Colorado had 268 total yards. The Buffaloes had four turnovers and the Sun Devils had none.
Arizona State is outscoring teams 44-27. ASU is #9 in scoring and #84 in points allowed nationally. The Sun Devils are averaging 496.5 yards per game, including 342.2 passing and 154.3 rushing yards. ASU is #9 in passing nationally and #19 in total offense. The Sun Devils are #79 in rushing. On defense, the Sun Devils are allowing 372.2 yards per game, including 203.3 passing yards and 168.8 rushing yards. The Sun Devils are +7 in turnovers with 15 takeaways. ASU is 44/101 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 38/96. ASU averages 34 penalty yards per game and opponents average 60. Arizona state has forced 10 sacks this season but has allowed 14. The Sun Devils are 29/33 scoring in the red zone with 20 touchdowns and opponents are 17/20 with 12 touchdowns. The Sun Devils have allowed two defensive touchdowns this season and have two of their own.
ASU quarterback Taylor Kelly has completed 62% of his passes for 1,965 yards with 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, and also has 4 carries for 165 yards and a touchdown. Running back Marion Grice has 90 carries, 395 yards and 10 touchdowns, along with 29 catches, 265 yards and 5 touchdowns. Receiver Jaelen Strong has 42 catches, 678 yards and 4 touchdowns. Running back D.J. Foster has 32 catches for 334 yards and a touchdown along with 100 rushing yards. Chris Coyle has 13 catches, 224 yards and 2 scores. Two defensive players in the front 7 are out for the season.
Washington is 5-0 ATS after failing to cover, 8-1 after a straight up loss of 20 points or more, 6-1-1 after allowing 40 points or more, 4-1 after allowing more than 200 rushing yards, 6-2 in Pac 12 games and against teams with winning records, 9-3 overall and after allowing 280 passing yards or more, 5-2 after a straight up loss and after allowing 450 total yards or more, 4-9 in road games, 15-37-2 in October, 2-7 against teams with winning home records, and 2-8-1 after a double digit home loss.
Arizona State is 5-1 ATS at home, 4-1 in Pac 12 games, 6-2 after gaining more than 450 total yards and on grass, 5-2-1 against teams with winning road records, 9-4 after allowing less than 170 passing yards, 11-5 after allowing less than 275 total yards, and 3-7 against teams with winning records. The favorite is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 in this series. The Sun Devils have covered the last 7 games against the Huskies including 4-0 ATS in Tempe.
Both of these teams have explosive offenses and this could be a shoot-out. Washington has a top 20 defense but they were shredded for over 600 yards by Oregon last week. That isn’t a realistic view of how good the Husky defense is because Oregon has shredded lots of good defenses. I think Arizona State finds a way to win a close game at home. The game starts at 3:00 pm in Tempe so even in mid-October it will still be in the mid 80’s at game time.
