ASU Football: Best, average and worst case scenarios against UTSA

ASU football is expected to defeat UTSA in their season opener, but nothing is guaranteed come game day. Here are some scenarios that might happen.

The first full Saturday of college football is here, and we couldn’t be more excited.

For Arizona State, tonight’s season opener will debut a lot of “news:” new running back corps, coordinators, assistants, and of course, a new head coach in Herm Edwards.

The Sun Devils are currently a 17-point favorite against the Roadrunners, but that doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to cover the spread. ASU was a 24.5 favorite last season against New Mexico State but only won by six points.

The Roadrunners also aren’t your typical first game pushover. The team ranked No. 5 last season in total defense, allowing just 288 yards per game and 24 opposing touchdowns.

With all the excitement going into tonight’s game, let’s take a look at three scenarios that could happen on the gridiron.

Best Case Scenario: Convincing Win

ASU covers the spread, defeating UTSA by three or more touchdowns. Manny Wilkins shakes off concerns of having a fourth offensive coordinator in four years and connects frequently with N’Keal Harry, who shows why he’s considered a potential first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Eno Benjamin adds to the potential he flashed in last year’s game against Colorado, showing that he could be a proficient replacement for Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage in the backfield. He finishes with over 100 yards rushing while Isaiah Floyd shows he’s ready for Division 1 football.

The young defense also gives a promising performance, limiting the Roadrunners to under 14 points while forcing multiple turnovers. Cornerbacks Chase Lucas and Kobe Williams show leadership in the secondary, and the Sun Devils find comfort in Danny Gonzales’ 3-3-5 defensive scheme.

Going into their matchup with Michigan State, the Edwards train will have gained some steam.

Average Scenario: Déjà vu

Like last year’s opener, the Devils jump off to a hot start, leading by two or more scores late in the game. Then, the Roadrunners begin to make a run.

The final score is within 10 points. Wilkins’ passing game helps put points on the board, but Benjamin shows discomfort as the team’s primary runner. Likewise, the youth of the Sun Devil defense shows, as they allow a late run from UTSA to take away from their ability to cover the spread.

It’s not time to panic, as Michigan State also underwhelmed in their 7-point victory over Utah State. But there’s concerns that the Sun Devils are really missing some players from last year’s roster, and that’s not a good sign for their future in the Pac-12.

Worst Case Scenario: Get off the Train

Edwards and Ray Anderson are already under fire, as the Sun Devils drop their opener and one of the few games they’re favored to win this season.

ASU looks out of sync on both ends of the ball, as a Marcus Davenport-less UTSA stifles Rob Likens’ offense and keeps Wilkins in check. He doesn’t find protection against the Roadrunners’ front seven and faces pressure all night, which limits the ability for Benjamin to get loose and has Harry become a bailout option.

The Sun Devil defense shows massive chemistry problems, as they get torn up on the ground and can’t keep up with an offense that ranked 104th in points per game.

If this happened, there’d be a lot of people jumping off Edwards’ train. ASU’s week two matchup with Michigan State would be a must-win, and if that didn’t happen, they’ll be in for a long year.