Arizona State Football: 2017 Sun Devils season preview, predictions
By Zach Bigalke
2017 Schedule
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION |
| 1 | Aug. 31 | vs. New Mexico State | Tempe, AZ |
| 2 | Sept. 9 | vs. San Diego State | Tempe, AZ |
| 3 | Sept. 16 | at Texas Tech | Lubbock, TX |
| 4 | Sept. 23 | vs. Oregon | Tempe, AZ |
| 5 | Sept. 30 | at Stanford | Stanford, CA |
| 6 | BYE WEEK | ||
| 7 | Oct. 14 | vs. Washington | Tempe, AZ |
| 8 | Oct. 21 | at Utah | Salt Lake City, UT |
| 9 | Oct. 28 | vs. USC | Tempe, AZ |
| 10 | Nov. 4 | vs. Colorado | Tempe, AZ |
| 11 | Nov. 11 | at UCLA | Pasadena, CA |
| 12 | Nov. 18 | at Oregon State | Corvallis, OR |
| 13 | Nov. 25 | vs. Arizona | Tempe, AZ |
The non-conference schedule was not the problem for Arizona State last year. It offers a mixed bag this year for the Sun Devils. They open the year at home against a New Mexico State team that is about to be cast adrift into independence after this season by the Sun Belt. Two-time defending Mountain West champion San Diego State comes to Tempe the following week, which could be a stiff test. They close out with a trip to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech in a rematch of last year’s 68-55 shootout.
Unlike their rivals, Arizona State faces both Washington and Stanford from the Pac-12 North. Instead they avoid Washington State and California from the other division. Oregon and Washington come to Tempe, while the Sun Devils travel to Stanford in late September and Corvallis in November.
In divisional play, ASU faces Utah in Salt Lake City and UCLA in the Rose Bowl. They host USC and Colorado as well as the Territorial Cup showdown with rival Arizona on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Both teams could be playing for a bowl appearance, just as the Sun Devils were last season.
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Projection: 7-5 (4-5 Pac-12)
This time around, though, the Sun Devils should have bowl eligibility locked up before Thanksgiving. New Mexico State is a likely win, and San Diego State must face life after Donnel Pumphrey. Texas Tech will be looking for revenge, but will be beatable once again. Stanford, Washington and USC are the toughest conference tests, but they should be well matched in most other games. They should get to seven or even eight wins this year and return to the postseason with ease.