Four teams in the Pac-12 South are undefeated, and one of the favorites (USC) is not one of them. The division’s other two ranked teams will square off Thursday night, when Arizona State hosts UCLA.
How to watch UCLA vs. Arizona State: Game guide, TV/streaming, spread and more
Which Pac-12 South contender will remain undefeated?
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The Sun Devils will be without starting quarterback Taylor Kelly, while the status of UCLA's Brett Hundley is uncertain (although he practiced this week). Arizona State opened the year with blowout wins over FCS Weber State and New Mexico, following that up with a 38-24 victory at Colorado in its Pac-12 opener.
UCLA is also undefeated, but struggled in each of its three games. The Bruins beat Virginia, Memphis and Texas by a combined 18 points, and had offensive issues before Hundley was hurt. If he’s back, that’s a big addition for the Bruins, but they’ll still need more consistency on that side of the ball.
Our sites on these teams
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 10 p.m. ET. Be sure you watch this instead of going to the Drake show nearby, ASU reminds you.
TV: FOX Sports 1
Online streaming: FOXSportsGo
The numbers
Rankings and records: UCLA is ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll and No. 10 in the Coaches Poll. Arizona State is ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll and No. 12 in the Coaches Poll. The Bruins are 3-0, and this is their first game in Pac-12 play. The Sun Devils are 3-0, tied for first place in the Pac-12 South with a 1-0 conference record. UCLA holds the 18-11-1 lead in the all-time series.
Vegas: UCLA opened as a 3-point favorite. The line has since moved to 3.5. But if the Bruins win, we’ll still learn a whole lot about how championship-ready they really are.
Weather forecast: 88 degrees and clear skies
Two things at stake
UCLA has struggled in each of its three victories. A win over Arizona State would be its most impressive to date and would quiet some concerns.
Arizona State follows this game with a road trip to USC and a home date with Stanford. A win here could help set the Sun Devils on the right path in that tough stretch.
One big matchup
Arizona State rushing offense vs. UCLA linebackers. The Sun Devils have eclipsed 200 yards rushing in each of their three games so far this season, led by a 423-yard, six-touchdown effort on the ground at New Mexico. On the year, they're averaging 7.13 yards per carry (tied for fourth in the nation), and are led by junior D.J. Foster (54 carries, 510 yards, five touchdowns).
UCLA's strongest unit may be its linebacking corps, led by senior Eric Kendricks and sophomore Myles Jack. Kendricks leads the team with 37 tackles this year, with a fumble forced and an interception returned for a touchdown. Jack is second, with 26, and has broken up two passes so far this season.
Further reading
For more on UCLA, head over to Bruins Nation. For full coverage of Arizona State, check out House of Sparky.
See More:
