PULLMAN, Wash. – On its way to a share of the 2007 Pac-10 football championship, Arizona State survived a trip to the Palouse, 23-20, with Washington State missing a field goal to force overtime.
ASU hasn't put up more than 27 points here since 1998, going 3-2 since with each win by three points and one of those in overtime. Plus these Sun Devils (2-2, 0-1 Pac-10) fall far short of being an offensive juggernaut.
The forecast Saturday is for a high in the low 40s. ASU is playing on artificial turf for the first time this season. Washington State (1-4, 0-3) is desperate to at least equal its two wins of a year ago.
All should be warnings signs for a three-touchdown favorite that cannot afford to think like one.
"We've got to go up ready for a dogfight," linebacker Mike Nixon said. "We were a 10-2 team that struggled up there (in 2007), and right now we're not playing like a 10-2 team. We've got to be prepared to play four quarters and gut it out."
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On the plus side, the Sun Devils were competitive in their only other road game, a 20-17 loss to Georgia, and are putting the nation's No. 3-ranked defense against the No. 112 offense. And Washington State's offense is higher ranked than its defense (No. 119).
Neither team is what it was two years ago, but the injury-riddled Cougars (5-7 in 2007) appear to be falling further behind in a head-to-head comparison.
But appearance is as fickle as the weather here. It's nothing that ASU can take for granted.
Sun Devils on offense: ASU doesn't want Danny Sullivan, or any of its quarterbacks, to throw 58 passes like last week. So the first priority is to re-establish the balance of their first three games when the Sun Devils rushed (102 attempts) more than they passed (94). If play action is working, Sullivan should be able to exploit the nation's lowest-ranked pass defense, allowing 309.8 yards per game, and regain some confidence. WR Chris McGaha is looking to build on a career best 15-catch game. Advantage: Arizona State
Sun Devils on defense: ASU is ranked third nationally in total defense but still seeking a better pass rush (No. 115 in sacks) and must eliminate plays of 20 yards or more like those that hurt them against Georgia and Oregon State. Washington State is vulnerable in the offensive front due to injuries and will go with true freshman Jeff Tuel, if healthy, at quarterback. The Sun Devils played from 14-3 or further behind in their last two games and must reverse that trend to take pressure off the offense. Advantage: Arizona State
Special teams: Punters Trevor Hankins of ASU and Reid Forrest of Washington State are ranked 1-2 in the Pac-10 with 45.2- and 44.7-yard averages. Kickers Bobby Wenzig (ASU) and Nico Grasu (WSU) are identical in field-goal average (1.000). The Sun Devils statistically are better on returns although they've dropped to No. 81 nationally in kickoff returns. Marcus Richmond of Mesa returns kickoffs for Washington State. Advantage: Arizona State.
Bottom line: Washington State is having more trouble with spread offenses (Hawaii, Southern Methodist, Oregon) than with the more familiar pro style (Stanford, Southern California). ASU is a 21-point favorite but hasn't scored more than 27 points in its last five trips to Pullman. Arizona State 31, Washington State 10
TODAY
• What: ASU at Washington St.
• When: 2 p.m.
• TV: None
