The Colorado Buffaloes host the Arizona State Sun Devils in a match up between two teams trending in different directions. The Sun Devils are 7-3 following a comeback win vs. West Virginia and have won two in a row and three of their last four games. Meantime, the Buffaloes are 3-7 overall and have lost three in a row, most recently a 29-22 defeat vs. West Virginia in Week 11.
Arizona State is favored by 7.5 points, and the over/under is set at 48.5 points. Here are two key players to watch in this game, followed by the top storylines for each team, and a prediction from Heartland College Sports.
Two Key Players to Watch
Jeff Sims, Arizona State Quarteback
Jeff Sims had his best game as a dual-threat quarterback for Arizona State last week throwing for more than 200 yards and rushing for more than 80 yards, including leading the Sun Devils on a game-winning drive to beat the Mountaineers. He’s getting better and more comfortable by the week as Sam Leavitt’s replacement, and it’s paying dividends for the Sun Devils who are still in the race for a Big 12 Championship Game appearance.
JuJu Lewis, Colorado Quarterback
JuJu Lewis gave this team the spark that it needed in a 29-22 loss to West Virginia. This came after Colorado lost its last two game by a combined score of 105-24. He threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns, and showed impressive poise for a freshman, all while battling through a depleted offensive line. Lewis took seven sacks and had 15 tackles for loss, but hung tough and kept the team in the game. What did a learn during a bye week and can he build on that?
Top Storylines
Colorado Must Pass, Pass and Pass Some More
The Buffaloes can’t run the ball and Arizona State is great against the run, ranking second in the Big 12. Where ASU has been vulnerable at times is vs. the pass, where they rank 12th in the Big 12 in passing yards allowed per game. That means JuJu has to have a career game for a freshman, while utilizing a bunch of his weapons, including Omarion Miller, Joseph Brown, Sincere Brown and more. That is their best chance to pull the upset.
Arizona State: Get to the Quarterback
With Colorado likely to lean on its passing game, Arizona State is set up for success as the defensive line has been as good as any this side of Texas Tech. The Sun Devils are ranked second in the Big 12 with 27 sacks on the season, behind only the Red Raiders, tied with Utah and two ahead of the West Virginia Mountaineers. Justin Wodtly was a beast last week vs. WVU, and then mix in Clayton Smith, Prince Dorbah and more and it could be a tough day for a Colorado team that has given up the most sacks in the Big 12 (31 in 10 games).
Prediction: Arizona State 31, Colorado 13
Something I haven’t mentioned yet is Arizona State’s rushing attack that is fifth in the Big 12 going up against Colorado’s last-ranked Big 12 rushing defense which is giving up over 200 yards per game on the ground. Jeff Sims gives the offense a run-first approach that is perfectly suited to take advantage of the weaknesses of the Buffaloes. Combine that with Arizona State’s strong pass rush and it’s going to be a long afternoon for Colorado.
