West Virginia is heading out on their last road trip of the regular season to Tempe for a 1:00 PM ET game against Arizona State. The Sun Devils have a strong, athletic front line, an experienced defense, and just came off a week off to rest. West Virginia is feeling good after winning their last two games against Houston and Colorado, with their defense leading the way last week by getting seven sacks and 15 Tackles For Loss. Their special teams also made a big play with a blocked punt that led to a safety.
Arizona State made a change at quarterback after Sam Leavitt got hurt and can’t play this season. Their new QB, Jeff Sims, is a sixth-year transfer and has really changed how their offense works. He even set a school record with 228 rushing yards in a game at Iowa State. Sims will challenge West Virginia’s defense, which has been really good at staying in their lanes and pursuing the ball well.
ASU Junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson will not play in the game because he's been out with a hamstring injury. However, having him play would have made their passing game tougher to defend because it would give more options besides tight end Chamon Metayer. Tyson's likely return would not be until the Nov. 22 game at Colorado. The Sun Devils have a defensive line strong enough to cause pressure without needing to blitz, so West Virginia needs to avoid third-and-long situations.
For West Virginia, their quarterback Scotty Fox has been steadying the offense. Their running game, which uses a committee approach (not necessarily by choice), is finally gaining some yards. On defense, Zac Alley’s group has been tightening up on early downs, forcing teams into longer third downs — exactly the kind of challenge they want to give Arizona State.
The series is tied 1–1. Arizona State won the first time they played in Tempe back in 1979, and West Virginia took the 2015 Cactus Bowl in Phoenix, winning 43–42. This will be West Virginia’s first real road game at ASU since that 1979 trip.
West Virginia is hitting their stride after a rough start to their season. Now they’re heading into the desert wanting to show they can play well on the road too. Scotty Fox’s calm playing style and Diore Hubbard stepping up are helping their offense look more like what coach Rich Rodriguez imagined. On defense, Zac Alley’s group is becoming known for their physical, pressuring style.
Arizona State comes into this game rested after their bye week, with an experienced team that still believes they can make it to the Big 12 Championship in Dallas. The new energy that Jeff Sims brings to the offense makes ASU less predictable, and if Jordyn Tyson returns, West Virginia’s secondary will have their hands full. For the Mountaineers, the plan is pretty straightforward: win early downs, prevent big plays, and let their defensive line control the game’s pace.
I’m taking the Under 48.5 in Tempe. Arizona State’s defense has quietly been one of the most consistent units since joining the Big 12, holding opponents to just over 23 points per game and rarely giving up explosive totals. West Virginia’s offense has looked sharper lately, but I’m not convinced they can sustain that form against a disciplined Sun Devils front that pressures well without blitzing. With Jeff Sims prone to turnovers and the Mountaineers likely to stack the box to contain him, I see a grind-it-out game that stays below the number.
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