re: Big Name Regular Season OOC Games - SEC West

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Ags gunna boat race ASU just like USCe last year. They won't be ready for us.

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I really wish that I could agree with you, but I actually have this as one of our two regular season losses...in a very very close game.

ASU returns 16 starters, 9 of whom are on their defense. They were #81 in the nation last year in total defense and those numbers should improve with all the experience coming back for them this year. They were #103 in pass defense last year, which is good for us of course, but keep in mind they played in a conference that is pass happy and had a few mid-season injuries that contributed to that number. Their rush defense was pretty solid on paper, but again, you have to keep in mind the conference they play in.

The big question mark will be how much our defense has improved. We will put some points on the board, but ASU has a great offense (#34 in the nation in total offense last year). I am not sure that our defense will be good enough this early in the season to keep them off the board enough to beat them. I think it will be a great game, but this defense will need a couple of games under their belt before we really see the improvement we are looking for from Chavis.

Texas A&M - 38
ASU - 45