Arizona State Football: Why There Is Still Hope for the Sun Devils' 2011 Season

When the Arizona State Sun Devils lost on Saturday night to the UCLA Bruins, many fans had lost hope in the season. A loss is never easy, especially when your team has high hopes for what was looking to be one of their best seasons in quite some time.

Contrary to what many may think, the Sun Devils' season is just as wide open as it has been all season long. Nobody is expecting the Sun Devils to win the Pac-12 Championship, as the Oregon Ducks and Stanford Cardinal are just too strong of teams.

They still can win the Pac-12 South and make their way back into the bowl season picture.

The Sun Devils may have lost their BCS ranking in Week 10, but they still have time to gain it back. They got there before, so there is no reason why they can't get back. Here are five reasons on why there is still much hope for the Sun Devils' 2011 football season.

Their Remaning Schedule Is Easy

The Arizona State Sun Devils have already had its toughest part of the schedule pass them. With the Missouri Tigers, USC Trojans and Oregon Ducks all in the past, they have a very bright future ahead of them.

The remained of their schedule consists of all Pac-12 match ups in University of Arizona, Washington State and Cal. Their toughest game will be against Arizona, but that game is at home. The Wildcats are also only 2-7 on the season, so that isn't saying much.

If the Sun Devils can stay focused and win out their last three games, they will be 9-3 on the season and will be in great position to get into a better bowl game. If that record can take them into the Pac-12 championship, they will have a shot at either Oregon or Stanford, which could actually be really good or really bad for the Sun Devils.

If they win, they will instantly have a shot at better bowl game. If they lose though, they will have four losses on their season and will likely lose their footing on a better bowl game they would have been presented given their 9-3 record.

Running Back Cameron Marshall Keeps Getting Better

After a very slow start to the season, the Arizona State Sun Devils' running back Cameron Marshall is really starting to look like a star.

On the season, Marshall has ran for 800 yards in eight games, including 13 touchdowns. In his most recent game against the UCLA Bruins, Marshall broke out for 164 yards and a touchdown. While this wasn't his highest scoring game of the season, it is a sign that his legs are really starting to kick into high gear towards seasons end.

The Sun Devils have a star back in Marshall, and if his play continues to shine, the Sun Devils will have a chance to shine as well.

UCLA Will Lose to USC

With their victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday night, the UCLA Bruins are riding high. And they should be. That ride though will come a halting stop in the last week of the regular season when they visit the USC Trojans.

Although the Trojans can't make any bowl games this season, they are arguably the most dangerous team in the Pac-12 South. When the Bruins head to Los Angeles, they will be in for quite a challenge.

The Sun Devils will need to hold on tight, and they will need to keep winning. If they can keep winning and the Bruins fall to the Trojans, the Sun Devils will once again be in position to claim the Pac-12 South as their own.

While the Trojans must do their part, the Sun Devils have to keep winning. If the they can finish out this season on a high note, they will have a chance to be crowned the Pac-12 champs.

Coach Dennis Erickson Has His Career Riding on This Season

While it is hard to believe that the Arizona State Sun Devils would remove their head coach in Dennis Erickson at season's end, the veteran coach is certainly running on a short leash.

This season has been great success for the Sun Devils, but more recently they haven't been as notable. Erickson has put together a great squad for the 2011 season, but if things go to shambles, there is a chance that Arizona State has just seen enough.

If the Sun Devils are unable to keep their composure high following the loss at UCLA, things are going to likely fall upon coach Erickson's feet and he will be the one carrying this season's collapse on his shoulders.

Even if the Sun Devils do no not make the Pac-12 Championship game, Erickson will likely be kept around as long as they win out the remaining games on their schedule. If the Sun Devils manage to lose to the University of Arizona, people may be calling for his dismissal sooner than later.

Their Defense Is Ridiculously Good

The one thing that will keep the Arizona State Sun Devils' season alive is their defense. Although they did not show up against the UCLA Bruins like they have all season, most of the time they have been very good.

Key players Vontaze Burfict and Shelly Lyons are the ring leaders of this defense, and it is important that they keep the composure high going down the stretch. This defense is dangerous, but it only works when they work as a cohesive unit.

The Sun Devils have lost many players to injuries, but time and time again they have come through and made the big plays. They have forced 27 turnovers on the season. That is nearly four per game. Against these next few opponents, the Sun Devils should be able to increase this number and become more and more dangerous.

With the UCLA loss, the Sun Devils' secondary needs to realize they are not perfect and that they need to step up throughout the entire game. The easier schedule will allow them to increase their chemistry and hopefully they will be able to play to their best capabilities if the Sun Devils can once again enter the Pac-12 Championship picture.