The Sun Devils will again host a game at Mountain America Stadium this Saturday, with the undefeated Bulldogs of Fresno State coming to Tempe.
According to Las Vegas, Arizona State will be the underdogs despite having home-field advantage, with the Bulldogs listed as three-point favorites.
Fresno State is currently sitting at 2-0. The Bulldogs defeated Big Ten opponent Purdue in the first week, and Eastern Washington in the next.
Both games were won by less than five points each, with the Bulldog defense allowing two games of 30-plus point scores.
The Eastern Washington game was won in overtime.
Arizona State on the other hand has been fighting the injury bug since the season began. The offensive linemen for the Sun Devils have been particularly affected. Graduate senior lineman Emmit Bohle was the latest injured player, as he suffered a broken leg in Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma State.
Last week, the Sun Devils were leading at halftime against the Oklahoma State Cowboys by five points.
However, after the Bohle injury, freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada was sacked three times, and threw his first career interception.
The Sun Devils were unable to score again for the rest of the game, allowing a 17-0 run by the Cowboys, and eventually losing the game 27-15.
The Bulldogs are currently on an 11-game winning streak going back to last season, and the Sun Devils have a chance to spoil that.
Recent history has not favored the Sun Devils, as the Bulldogs beat ASU 31-20 in the Las Vegas Bowl in 2018.
“When you have the second longest win streak in the country, you’re doing something right,” ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham said. “You can tell that culture has been instilled there.”
The Bulldogs lead the Sun Devils in every statistical offensive category. Fresno’s passing offense has averaged over a hundred more yards than ASU’s passing offense, which sits at 201.5. However, Fresno State’s defense has been statistically weaker than the Sun Devils. While ASU has allowed 165 passing yards per game, the Bulldogs have allowed 243.5 per game.
As for total yards, Fresno State has allowed 364.5 total yards per game to ASU’s 265 yards allowed.
When it comes to individual players, the Bulldogs have a leg up on the Sun Devils again. Bulldogs junior running back Elijah Gillman has more carries and rushing yards than Sun Devils running back, junior Cameron Skattebo.
The Bulldogs sophomore quarterback Mikey Keene currently has a higher pass completion rate, more passing yards, and more touchdown passes than Rashada.
With the offensive line being very thin for ASU, the Sun Devils will face an enormous challenge this Saturday at Mountain America Stadium.
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