Arizona State @ Missouri preview
Faurot Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2011 ) Missouri 30, Arizona State 37
Arizona State will encounter its first stiff test of the season Saturday night at Missouri. The Sun Devils enter the game averaging 7.7 yards per play through the first two games and have gone three-and-out just four times this season. They haven’t been as successful on the road the last four seasons, however, posting a 5-16 overall record. Missouri will be trying to rebound from a 41-20 loss Saturday at home to No. 7 Georgia, while trying to avoid looking ahead to next week’s game at No. 9 South Carolina. Tigers quarterback James Franklin will need to be sharp following an average performance against Georgia and play more like the signal caller who threw for 319 yards and two touchdowns in an overtime loss to Arizona State last season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Missouri -10.
ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (2-0): The quarterback tandem of Taylor Kelly and Michael Eubank has worked well for the Sun Devils thus far. They’re a combined 39-for-49 passing with four touchdown passes and no interceptions. Kelly has taken a majority of the snaps for Arizona State, and enters Saturday’s game as the highest-rated passer in the Pac-12. Eubank, a true freshman, has been making the most of his opportunities. He completed all five of his pass attempts last week in a rout of Illinois, tossed a touchdown pass and ran for another. Junior tight end Chris Coyle should continue as their No. 1 target. He has 12 receptions for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
ABOUT MISSOURI (1-1): If the Tigers hope to return to their winning ways, they’ll need to be more efficient on third down. They were 4-for-18 against Georgia and sit 7-for-28 on the season. Franklin has a big target to look to in 6-foot-5 junior wide receiver Marcus Lucas, who will own a significant height advantage against an Arizona State secondary that doesn’t have a cornerback taller than 6-0. Lucas showed he’s primed for a breakout season after establishing career highs with six receptions for 88 yards against Georgia. His 41-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter gave the Tigers a 10-3 lead.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Arizona State coach Todd Graham said sophomore running back Deantre Lewis will get a chance to play defense against the Tigers, likely in a hybrid linebacker role.
2. Arizona State linebacker Brandon Magee is expected to return after sitting out last game with concussion symptoms. However, freshman linebacker Carlos Mendoza, who had two interceptions against Illinois, is doubtful after seperating his shoulder in the game.
3. The Tigers will be without offensive tackle Elvis Fisher, who suffered a knee injury against Georgia. Fisher, a sixth-year senior, missed last season with another knee injury.
PREDICTION: Arizona State 35, Missouri 31.