The time has finally come.
While No. 20 Arizona State remains in the hunt for a spot in the Big 12 title game, they have more important business to take care of first: keeping the cup. They'll host bitter rival No. 25 Arizona tonight in the 99th installment of the Territorial Cup, the oldest rivalry trophy in the history of college sports.
This is also the most intense rivalry in college football, according to our own FanSided parent network. So this makes for appointment television, yet some of our experts are sweating out the result already.
Austen Bundy (7-4):
Well, I'm not going to lie. I've got a bad feeling about this one. Shocker, right? ASU has figured out ways to scrap out wins without star QB Sam Leavitt and only just got wideout Jordyn Tyson back this past week. But let's not forget they defeated two Big 12 basement dwellers in what felt like tight contests. Now they face the team from down south which has won four straight and boasts an aerial offense that averages 251.5 yards-per-game.
The Sun Devils will need to rely on the play calling that earned them those victories which means handing the ball off to Raleek Brown and letting Jeff Sims confuse the Wildcat defense with play-action reads. That'll open up guys like Tyson down the field for crucial deep shots that could act as daggers late in the game. Execute that gameplan and victory is within sight.
Prediction: Sun Devils win 34-28
Aya Abdeen:
I expect high-scoring games from both the Sun Devils and Wildcats, especially since it's a ranked-on-ranked matchup in Tempe. I can see Raleek Brown picking up where he left off, QB Jeff Sims taking better care of the ball and passing to different varieties as teammates as well.
It's huge Arizona State got wins over Texas Tech earlier in the season when Sam Leavitt was around before missing the remainder of the season due to injury. Still, coach Kenny Dillingham and the team has a lot to be proud of, Big 12 Championship game or not.
Prediction: Sun Devils win 28-24
Andrew Hayslett (6-5):
I don't want to be the Devil's Advocate, but I will. In my mind, I have gone back and forth on who will win the 99th edition of the Territorial Cup. I expect Arizona State's run offense to deliver with redshirt senior quarterback Jeff Sims and redshirt junior running back Raleek Brown to see plenty of action.
On the flip side, Arizona’s passing offense will shine under the bright lights of Mountain America Stadium, keeping the game within a score at all times. Of all the games we have predicted this season, this is the hardest one. This time, I will advocate for the Devils as they will win on a late Jesus Gomez field goal.
Prediction: Sun Devils win 27-26
Tom Hardon (7-4):
It just means more.
No, I'm not talking about the SEC. The Territorial Cup is the oldest rivalry trophy, and has been rated as themost intense rivalryin college football. This year is no different, with the Sun Devils clinging to the hope of a second straight Big 12 championship game appearance.
That being said, the rivals to the South have stepped up their game and will be out for blood after last year's49-7 dismantling in the Old Pueblo. The Sun Devils enter this game as 1.5 point home underdogs, but look for the defense to expose the predictable play calling and keep Noah Fifita in long yardage situations. This game will come down to who has the ball last, with the Sun Devils claiming a narrow victory to keep the Cup.
Prediction: Sun Devils win 20-17
David Howman (8-3):
The Wildcats are favored on the road in this one, I believe for the same reason all our experts are feeling scared about this game. Well, not me. It's true that Arizona is coming into this one on a hot streak, winners of four straight, but only one of those came over a team with a winning record.
I think Jeff Sims, Raleek Brown, and the rest of this run game will batter former Sun Devil coach Danny Gonzales' blitz happy 3-3-5 defense and rack up a ton of rush yards, while Brian Ward's defense will have plenty of answers against Noah Fifita and the Wildcats offense.
Prediction: Sun Devils win 38-20