This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
For all the deserved acclaim and success Utah has had this season in Pac-12 play, one bugaboo stands in the way: Beating ASU. The Sun Devils have been a thorn in the side of Utah's program for nearly 40 years, the Utes last winning in Tempe 31-28 in 1976. However, the Sun Devils also haven't faced a No. 4 Utah team like this one. Will ASU continue the winning streak over Utah? Or with the Utes turn up the heat at home and end the skid? Here's a position-by-position look at this week's matchup and which team will have the edge heading into Saturday's game:
Editor's note: Brennan is an alumnus of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University.
Quarterback
Travis Wilson came back to reality last week after lighting up Oregon, throwing two picks to only one touchdown against Cal. The Golden Bears' defensive coverages seemed to befuddle Wilson, who hit Cory Butler-Byrd for a long 54-yard touchdown, but generated only 116 yards otherwise. He has a good matchup this week against an ASU pass defense that ranks 10th in the Pac-12 and 90th in the nation in passing yards allowed. However, he'll also deal with an ASU team that's aggressive and blitzes almost incessantly, making ball security and decision making a high priority.
Mike Bercovici came into the season heralded as an upgrade under center from the departed Taylor Kelly, but struggled out of the gate against Texas A&M. After the Sun Devils were embarrassed by USC, Bercovici has caught fire the last two weeks, throwing for a combined seven touchdowns to two interceptions and 533 yards against Colorado and UCLA. Utah will need to take a page out of A&M's book, hitting him early and often with sacks and pressure to keep him off kilter. Still, ASU boasts the fourth best passing offense and fourth most passing touchdowns in the Pac-12, giving Bercovici the edge here.
Edge: ASU
Running back
It's easy to discount just how good Devontae Booker is when he performs week after week, but his 222 yard effort against Cal was his third 100 yard day out of five games this season. He's averaging 133 yards per game and leads the Utes in receiving with 194 yards in the Pac-12's third best rushing offense. However, he's also running up against the conference's fourth best rush defense this week in ASU, that held UCLA star Paul Perkins to only 63 yards two weeks ago. The Utes will have to vary up Booker's usage to not only pound him between the tackles, but aslo get him the ball in space on swing passes and dump offs, to beat the Sun Devils.
The biggest injury question in this game depends on sophomore running back Demario Richard's knee and how effective he can be on Saturday. Richard has keyed the resurgence of ASU's offense after some struggles to begin the season, racking up 529 yards and four scores this year. ASU has other options in the versatile D.J. Foster and speedster Kalen Ballage, but Richard is the straw that stirs the drink. With his potential to be hobbled, Booker has the clear advantage.
Edge: Utah
Wide receivers
Kyle Whittingham mentioned earlier this week about getting Britain Covey into space more often after the electric freshman's impact fell off against Cal when he was held to zero catches. The Utes need more out of Covey and from Kenneth Scott — who had four catches for 34 yards Saturday — to keep ASU's defense honest and from teeing off on Booker and Wilson. They should have success against a struggling ASU pass defense and getting another big play or two out of Cory Butler-Byrd would help.
Searching for an impact receiver after Jaelen Strong departed for the NFL and Cameron Smith was lost for the season, Tim White has emerged for the Sun Devils. The redshirt junior has looked explosive, catching seven passes for 144 yards and two scores against Colorado after scoring against UCLA the previous week. Foster has also evolved from his early career in the backfield to become the team's primary slot receiving threat as the team leader in catches. ASU has a slight edge here with the talent of White and Foster.
Edge: ASU
Offensive line
Utah's offensive line has been an incredible strength all season and has still allowed only two sacks of Wilson. Along with the run game success, the guys in the trenches are making an argument as the most valuable unit in the entire Pac-12. However, they'll face a serious test this week against an ASU team that leads the conference with 19 sacks after an eight sack effort against the Buffaloes.
Arizona State's offensive line was frankly awful to start off the season and still ranks tied for ninth in the Pac-12 for sacks surrendered with 16. But the Sun Devils have been on a roll lately in protecting Bercovici, giving up only one sack in each game against UCLA and Colorado. It's a fairly obvious factor, but whichever team can handle pressure better and keep their quarterback upright will have a huge advantage in this game.
Edge: Utah
Defensive line and linebackers
Another week, another huge performance from Gionni Paul. No linebacker in the nation is playing better than him at this point after he secured a diving interception to go along with seven tackles and a forced fumble against Cal. Kyle Fitts has emerged at defensive end as a crucial difference maker and the team's depth in the front seven continues to be an advantage over every team they face. The Utes are still dragging a bit in generating sacks, but they could be in for a big week against ASU.
Utah lays the best claim to overall front seven talent in the Pac-12, but ASU isn't far behind. Salamo Fiso, Antonio Longino and Laiu Moeakiola lead a terrorizing defensive front, with Fiso the standard bearer at 10.5 tackles for loss, 50 tackles and a sack. Longino has 9.5 tackles for loss while fellow linebacker Christian Sam leads the team with three sacks. The Sun Devils will make Wilson uncomfortable all evening long and will test the strength of Utah's offensive line with a mixture of exotic blitzes.
Edge: Even
Secondary
In a secondary with Reggie Porter, Dominique Hatfield and Tevin Carter, who would have guessed Marcus Williams would be the MVP to this point? Williams picked off another pass — his Pac-12 leading fourth of the season — while Hatfield added two and Justin Thomas grabbed another. The Utes are feasting on mistakes of opposing passers, with an absurd 12 total for the team this season. Bercovici takes care of the ball, tossing only four interceptions this season, but he'll still have a hard time against this Utah defensive backfield.
ASU's biggest weakness is in the secondary, where the Sun Devils have repeatedly struggled this season. Surrendering an average of 244 yards per game passing, the Sun Devil defensive backs are often left on man coverage islands while the front seven blitzes, making ASU especially vulnerable to big plays. Still, the Sun Devils have leadership and experience in the secondary between Jordan Simone, Lloyd Carrington and Kweishi Brown that will match up well with Scott and Covey.
Edge: Utah
Prediction: This game has all the makings of a titanic matchup that could decide the Pac-12 South title down the road. ASU is getting hot at the right time, while Utah has been hot all season. Offensive line play will be a huge determining factor, but I think the Sun Devils mirror Utah better than any team the Utes have faced this season and steal a 28-23 win at Rice-Eccles Stadium.