Arizona State vs. Arizona: 2014 Territorial Cup TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates
The stakes have never been higher in the Territorial Cup between the Arizona State Sun Devils and Arizona Wildcats.
Literally—both teams rank among the top 13 in the nation, meaning this is the first time in the epic in-state rivalry's history that both programs are ranked for the showdown. More importantly, both sit at 9-2 and are part of a three-way tie at the top of the Pac-12 South.
Again, it does not get bigger than this. Arizona State has won three of the last four in the series, but both teams enter with prolific offenses that promise a shootout is set to unfold in the desert.
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(In)Experience Factors
Some were ready to consider this a down year for the Wildcats.
After all, the team is led by freshmen at both quarterback and running back. Anu Solomon has been a great surprise under center, though, throwing for 3,216 yards and 15 touchdowns to seven interceptions.
It helps that tailback Nick Wilson is already one of the nation's best, having rushed for 1,085 yards and 12 touchdowns on a 6.0 per-carry average. That said, it is the quarterback who most scares Arizona State coach Todd Graham.
"Man, he's done a tremendous job,'' Graham said, per Doug Haller of AZCentral.com. "Just a great operator of the offense, and his ability to extend plays, he really has a great knack for that. He's very elusive in the pocket, and you can tell he has a mastery of what they're trying to do. He does a great job."
As a result, the Wildcats come in at No. 22 with an average of 36.2 points per game. One problem—the more experienced Sun Devils trump that with an 18th-ranked offense that averages 37.2.
Senior quarterback Taylor Kelly has had a bit of a rough season thanks to a foot injury, but still has 1,730 yards with 18 touchdowns to five picks. He is rounding into form just in time, having thrown for nine touchdowns to three interceptions over the course of his past three outings.
Kelly has his own elusive lead back in junior D.J. Foster, who averages 5.7 yards per carry and has 968 yards and nine scores on the year.
In short, this has the look of an offensive shootout, although the experience gap may prove critical. This is especially the case with Solomon's status up in the air due to injury, meaning Jesse Scroggins, who has attempted seven career passes, would be the starter.
Getting Defensive and Territorial
The hiccup for both teams, of course, is a thing called defense.
The visitors rank 65th in this regard, the hosts 54th. Both share a common loss to the UCLA Bruins, which says all that really needs to be said about both units.
Arizona State was on the wrong side of a 62-27 outcome in which quarterback Brett Hundley threw for four touchdowns and the defense allowed 225 rushing yards and two more scores. Arizona let Hundley run wild for 32 total yards, and the Bruins found 271 yards on the ground.
Both offenses will clearly run through the ground game Friday, although Arizona appears to have a distinct advantage in that the Sun Devils struggle to contain dual-threat quarterbacks. Of course, this notion relies on Solomon actually being active and effective on a short week.
Still, that appears to swing things slightly in Arizona's favor, although it is important to point out that the series favors the visitor. As of late, at least, with the road team holding an 8-6 record in the last 14 contests.
As the Wildcats seniors play at home for the last time, they can only hope that trend does not hold true.
When: Friday, November 28, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
Television: Fox
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: N/A
- Spread: N/A
Team Injury Reports
| Ezekiel Bishop | S | 11/23/2014 | is questionable for Friday's game against Arizona | Questionable | knee |
| Jason Franklin | LB | 11/23/2014 | is questionable for Friday's game against Arizona | Questionable | undisclosed |
| Jaxon Hood | DT | 11/23/2014 | is questionable for Friday's game against Arizona | Questionable | personal |
| Ismael Murphy-Richardson | LB | 08/28/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | eligibility |
| Jamal Scott | LB | 11/23/2014 | is questionable for Friday's game against Arizona | Questionable | arm |
| Corey Smith | DT | 09/05/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | hip |
| Jaelen Strong | WR | 11/24/2014 | is probable for Friday's game against Arizona | Probable | concussion |
| Marcus Washington | TE | 10/05/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Jacob Arzouman | OL | 08/28/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Jerod Cody | DE | 08/28/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | concussion |
| Brandon Dawkins | QB | 08/26/2014 | is suspended indefinitely | Suspended | disciplinary |
| Chase Gorham | LS | 11/23/2014 | is questionable for Friday's game against Arizona State | Questionable | abdominal |
| Dwight Melvin | DT | 08/26/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | academics |
| DeAndre' Miller | LB | 11/23/2014 | is questionable for Friday's game against Arizona State | Questionable | shoulder |
| Nate Phillips | WR | 11/12/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | foot |
| Anu Solomon | QB | 11/23/2014 | is questionable for Friday's game against Arizona State | Questionable | ankle |
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
Prediction
If the home team were fully healthy, this one would likely play out a little differently.
But the Sun Devils are the ones finally getting to full strength and hitting their stride. Kelly is going to shred a defense that struggles in most aspects and counteract whatever the Wildcats can throw at him.
Solomon or not, the Wildcats offense will be a bit one-dimensional in its approach. Wilson is a great player, but the freshman is not at a point where he can do it all on his own.
That brings up the decisive factor—experience. Kelly and Co. have been down this path before.
Prediction: Sun Devils 36, Wildcats 30
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
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