ASU vs. Colorado scouting report, prediction
Arizona State hosts Colorado at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Doug Haller offers his scouting report and prediction.
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ASU
First and foremost
The Sun Devils (3-2, 1-1 in the Pac-12) are coming off last week's 38-23 upset win over then-No. 7 UCLA. They never have lost to Colorado in six tries. In three meetings under coach Todd Graham, ASU has won by an average of 29.6 points.
Key player
Tim White. The junior receiver nearly returned a kick-off for a touchdown in last week's win. Don't be surprised if he breaks another long run this week. In the passing game, White has 13 catches for 134 yards and three touchdowns.
Key stat
8- Through five games, ASU has given up only eight rushing plays of 20-plus yards, and three have come off quarterback scrambles.
Latest Pac-12 football power rankings:
COLORADO
First and foremost
The Buffaloes (3-2, 0-1) are coming off last week's 41-24 home loss to Oregon, a game that was closer than the final score indicates. Even so, they have lost 10 conference games in a row.
Key player
Nelson Spruce. The senior receiver -- a 2014 second-team All-Pac-12 selection -- has 31 catches for 363 yards and a touchdown -- and has yet to have a breakout game. Last season he had five 100-yard receiving games.
Key stat
12 -- Colorado has lost 12 consecutive conference road games, a streak that dates to 2012.
ASU football vs. Colorado: TV, radio, stadium information
ASU on offense
The Sun Devils are coming off their best offensive performance, but they still have room to grow. They average 27.6 points per game (11th in the Pac-12) and 5.5 yards per play (tied for 10th). Behind RBs Demario Richard (101.6 rushing yards per game) and Kalen Ballage (44.5), ASU will try to establish the run. QB Mike Bercovici added to this effort against UCLA, rushing for three first downs, including a 34-yard TD. Overall, Bercovici – the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week -- averages 268.8 passing yards per game (fourth in the Pac-12), but completes just 59.7 percent of his attempts (11th). WR D.J. Foster has 26 catches (fifth in the Pac-12) for 246 yards and 2 TDs. The Sun Devils rank 100th nationally in red-zone efficiency, producing just 13 TDs in 23 drives. … Colorado allows 21.4 points (fifth in the Pac-12) and 5.2 yards per play (tied for sixth.) The Buffaloes have forced 10 turnovers. Their 8 INTs rank second in the Pac-12 and 14th nationally. Colorado likely will be without top LBs Kenneth Olugbode and Addison Gillam because of injuries.
Advantage: ASU.
ASU on defense
The Sun Devils give up 26.8 points per game (10th in the Pac-12) and 5.0 yards per play (fourth in the Pac-12). Remove Cal Poly and New Mexico – triple-option teams that liked to run on nearly every down – and ASU has allowed 105.3 rushing yards against Texas A&M, USC and UCLA. LB Salamo Fiso – who leads the country in solo tackles – leads a unit that ranks sixth nationally with 44 TFLs. … Colorado averages 33.4 points (eight in the Pac-12) and 5.4 yards per play (11th). The Buffaloes – which rush on 59 percent of their total plays -- have topped 200 rushing yards in three of their five games. Overall, they average 233 rushing yards per game, which rank third in the Pac-12. RB Michael Adkins (70.7 rushing yards per game) is questionable with a hamstring issue. Phillip Lindsay and Christian Powell both average over 5 yards per carry. QB Sefo Liufau has played through shoulder issues, completing 59.2 percent of his attempts with 5 TDs and 2 INTs. WR Nelson Spruce is his top target and among the Pac-12's best at his position.
Advantage: ASU
ASU practice report for Thursday: Tracking D.J. Foster
Special teams
ASU shined last week. Matt Haack – the Pac-12's Special Teams Player of the Week – had a game-changing punt in the fourth quarter. Overall, he averages 43.6 yards per punt, which ranks third in the Pac-12 and 32nd nationally. Twelve of his 30 punts have been downed inside the 20. K Zane Gonzalez has a 70.4 touchback percentage, which ranks ninth nationally, but has made just 5 of 9 FGs, none longer than 31 yards. Tim White averages 28.9 yards on kick-off returns, which ranks 18th nationally. … Colorado's Diego Gonzalez has made 9 of 12 FGs with a long of 52 yards. Alex Kinney has a 38.3-yard punting average, which ranks 11th in the Pac-12. Behind returners Donovan Lee and Phillip Lindsay, Colorado ranks 15th nationally in kick-off returns (27.3 yards).
Advantage: ASU
Rich Rodriguez 28th, Todd Graham 33rd on list of highest-paid college football head coaches
Bottom line
With a trip to Utah waiting next week, ASU needs to build off last week's UCLA win. The offense still has a lot to clean up, particularly in the red zone. Sticking with Richard and Ballage in the running game will help. Also, count on a big special teams play for the second week in a row.
Prediction
ASU 37, Colorado 24
Grading ASU's win over UCLA:
