| When the Cougars run: Don’t let the fourth quarters against Oregon and UCLA fool you: The Cougars have been largely dreadful running the ball in the last month. Arizona State isn’t great up front, but unless the Cougars build a big lead they’re unlikely to pound away with the ground game and have any luck. EDGE: ASU |
| When the Cougars pass: Yes, the Cougars are short their top two receivers. But they’ll have to move the ball somehow, and with the running game doing little, expect Alex Brink to continue throwing even with Jason Hill and Michael Bumpus sidelined. The Sun Devils haven’t given up a ton of yards in the air, but they have allowed 17 touchdown passes. EDGE: WSU |
| When the Sun Devils run: This probably depends on how well the Cougars offense fares. Ryan Torain and Keegan Herring are both playing hurt in the Arizona State backfield, but Arizona’s weak running game had controlled success against WSU last week. If the Sun Devils can get a lead and let Torain pound away at the Cougars defense, they could take over the game. If WSU keeps it close or gets a lead, give the edge to its defense. EDGE: EVEN |
| When the Sun Devils pass: Dirk Koetter’s pass-happy offense has been anything but this season, with quarterback Rudy Carpenter struggling for unknown reasons. The Cougars pass defense, meanwhile, has been pretty solid all season long and there’s no reason to expect anything different this week. EDGE: WSU |
| Coaching/intangibles: OK, so the Cougars staff didn’t do a good job last week. But Arizona State has underwhelmed all season, and Koetter is presumed to be on the hot seat. In fact, his staff’s future may depend on the result of this game. EDGE: WSU |
| Injury list: The Cougars are without their top wide receivers, you say. Possibly without their top two defensive tackles, you protest. Without some of their best special teams players, too, you exclaim. But when Koetter sat down at the start of the week, 40 players were on the list handed to him by the training staff. EDGE: ASU |
