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

ASU football looks to inch closer toward a Pac-12 South title with a victory over UCLA. Here are three potential scenarios for tomorrow’s game.

Last time we were here, it wasn’t pretty.

Arizona State enters Saturday’s contest against UCLA on a two-game winning streak. Their offense is clicking. Their defense is stifling. Everything is going their way, and they have the clearest path toward a Pac-12 South title.

But it’s hard to not think about before.

When ASU last won two straight, a collapse ensued. The Sun Devils suffered four losses in their next five games, all coming by the cursed total of seven points.

With a 3-4 record, ASU’s bowl hopes were in jeopardy. Five games remained, but fans were set on thinking of what could’ve been rather than what could still be.

But after back-to-back victories at USC and over No. 15 Utah, hope has been restored. If ASU runs the table in their last three games, they will accomplish their goal of playing in Santa Clara – and maybe Pasadena.

The challenge begins Saturday as the Sun Devils hope to balance Senior Day with their championship pursuit. Their opponent’s 2-7 record may not be frightening, but the Bruins present plenty of threats to give ASU headaches.

Prior to the earliest kickoff of the season, let’s take a look at three scenarios that could play out tomorrow afternoon.

Best Case Scenario: Taking Care of Business

Herm Edwards‘ goal is to win three in a row. After tears and cheers flow for his seniors, the emotions on the field suffocate the Bruins and submit them to their third straight defeat by three touchdowns.

In a game Manny Wilkins hopes for a fond memory, the Sun Devils start by deferring the coin toss and pressuring quarterbacks Wilton Speight and Dorian Thompson-Robinson to make the first move.

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The deafening crowd flattens their concentration, and in their first series facing the 3-3-5 scheme, the Bruins cough up the ball and give the Sun Devils a defensive touchdown.

From there on, the onslaught reigns. Wilkins follows up his best career game with four more passing touchdowns, continuing to find N’Keal Harry in stride and allowing Eno Benjamin to inflict damage upon the Bruins’ shaky run defense.

An early lead stuffs the Bruins in the first quarter. As it grows, the effort doesn’t subside, and ASU forces two more defensive takeovers while pitching a shutout through three quarters.

After stopping more dynamic playmakers, the Sun Devil defense feels confident they can hang with anyone. That swagger is key, as a Justin Herbert-led offense in Oregon will require all hands on deck.

Average Case Scenario: Squeaking Out a Close One

The Bruins’ record tells one story, but their talent tells another. In breakout games from Joshua Kelley and the dual quarterbacks, the Sun Devils do just enough to avoid an upset defeat.

ASU starts the game with promise as they punch in two touchdowns to build a 7-point lead. From there on, the Bruins match the Sun Devils point-for-point, resulting in a one-score game by halftime.

The west coast shootout continues with each team reaching the 40’s by the fourth quarter. Then, ASU’s struggling defense gets the one stop they’re looking for – an interception that pushes their lead to double-digits for the first time.

With some breathing room, the Sun Devils use Benjamin to control the clock and shorten possessions. UCLA has a chance to creep back in, but the Senior Day crowd forces the issue and helps the Sun Devils escape with a single-digit victory.

For now, the seniors can live content with a win in their final home game. The next challenges won’t be easy, however, and they’ll need more dominant performances to secure the Pac-12 South title.

Worst Case Scenario: Here We Go Again…

In ASU’s first two-game win streak, their second win came over the 15th-ranked team in the country. Their current streak also featured a win against the 15th-ranked team.

See where this is going?

The bad voodoo returns for ASU on Senior Day. Kelly’s Bruins ruin the celebration, defeating the Sun Devils by seven points to derail newfound hopes of a divisional title.

Like the other defeats, ASU gets off to a slow start. The offense runs three-and-outs through their first four possessions, being unable to shake the jitters of the final home game.

On the other end, the Bruins dominate time of possession, allowing Kelley to pick up chunk yards and build a low-scoring yet comfortable lead by halftime.

The desperation kicks in the second half as Wilkins leads a touchdown drive to cut the lead within single digits by the end of the third. The Bruins score early in the fourth, however, as the quarterback change throws the Sun Devil defense off after finding a rhythm.

In the end, it comes down to a final drive for Wilkins to tie the game. The Sun Devils move deep into UCLA territory, but time expires after they miss on throws toward the endzone.

This type of loss stings on so many levels. The Senior Day is ruined. The conference championship hopes are likely done.

Next. ASU Football vs. UCLA: Broadcast Information. dark

This is everything the Sun Devils are hoping won’t happen come Saturday.

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