The Pac-12 South appears to be wide open this season. On Saturday, the USC Trojans and Arizona State Sun Devils will have a chance to make an early statement to the rest of their conference foes.
How to watch USC vs. Arizona State 2013: Preview, TV schedule, odds and more
The Sun Devils and Trojans look to avoid an 0-2 start in Pac-12 play.
Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
The Sun Devils are coming off a tough loss at the hands of Stanford, though they did battle back in the second half to prevent a total blowout. With a controversial win over Wisconsin still in the back of everyone’s minds, it remains to be seen just how good ASU really is. Is this team a Rose Bowl contender, or is it a middle-of-the-pack Pac-12 squad as it’s been for most of the last decade? Saturday’s game with the Trojans could say a lot.
USC got off to a rough start this season, but the Trojans have picked it up a bit in recent weeks. Lane Kiffin is coaching for his job right now, and a win in Tempe would be huge for the Trojans moving forward.
The numbers
Rankings and records: Neither team is ranked, and while a win on Saturday night probably won’t be enough to move either team back into the top 25, it will certainly help. What’s really up for grabs here is an early leg-up in the South Division.
Vegas: Arizona State opened up as a five-point favorite, according to OddsShark. The over/under opened at 49.5.
Weather: The high on Saturday is in the low-90s, but things should cool down a bit by kickoff. It should be a pleasant night for football.
Three names to know
Taylor Kelly: Arizona State's junior quarterback is off to another great start through three weeks with 1,019 passing yards, eight touchdowns and just three interceptions.
Marqise Lee: One of the most explosive playmakers in the nation, Lee's numbers are down a bit with Matt Barkley in the NFL, but he's still capable of changing the game in a hurry with his speed. Look for ASU to focus on the wideout all night long.
Will Sutton: If you haven't heard of Sutton by now, you should. He is arguably the best pass-rushing defensive tackle in the nation and does a terrific job clogging up the line. Sutton will give USC's offensive line trouble all night.
Two things at stake
With Arizona State and USC already losing their conference openers, an 0-2 start in Pac-12 play is the very last thing Todd Graham and Lane Kiffin need. Graham recently signed a contract extension, but as mentioned before, another loss would only make the “Fire Lane Kiffin” movement that much stronger.
How to witness
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Radio: Sun Devil IMG Radio Network across central Arizona. KSPN 710-AM radio in Southern California
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Further reading
For more on the Sun Devils, check out House of Sparky. Head over to Conquest Chronicles for the latest USC news, For all-things Pac-12 related, go to Pacific Takes.
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