Arizona State vs New Mexico State: Preview, prediction, TV channel

Thursday night’s Arizona State vs New Mexico State game marks the first contest of the year for both teams. Here’s everything you need to know.

Todd Graham is hoping for better luck in 2017. The Sun Devils finished 2016 with a 5-7 record and missed out on a bowl game after the head coach posted a 34-19 record through his first four years. Disappointment is a fair word to use when speaking about Arizona State’s season.

Landing Alabama transfer Blake Barnett was one of the biggest storylines of the offseason and he could help the Sun Devils instantly. However, the coaching staff has already named Manny Wilkins the team’s starter. He will get the nod in Week 1 against New Mexico State, but don’t be surprised if Barnett gets a run.

New Mexico State, on the other hand, finished with just three wins in 2016. The Aggies were known for having one of the premier offenses in the Sun Belt under Doug Martin, but the team couldn’t get much going, finishing 97th in the nation in terms of scoring.

Martin is just 10-38 in his four years with the Aggies and he will likely need to make a bowl game this season in order to keep his job. Averaging 2.5 wins per year isn’t something that keeps you around long. He does, however, have 16 starters returning from last year’s team, so that might help out in the race for a postseason bid.

Here’s how you can watch Thursday’s Arizona State vs New Mexico State game:

Date: Thursday, Aug. 31
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Tempe, Ariz.
Venue: Sun Devil Stadium
TV info: Pac-12 Network
Live stream: Pac-12 Live

Keys to victory

Arizona State needs to develop consistent on the offensive side of the ball and trust the run game more. No more relying on Manny Wilkins, or if Blake Barnett gets a shot, to run the show with no assistance. There’s talent in the backfield with Kalen Ballage and Demario Richard, but they need to be used more. That’s priority No. 1.

For New Mexico State, the only real shot the Aggies have in this one is if they can out-score Arizona State. They have had one of the most prolific offenses in the Sun Belt in recent years and the defense has been mediocre. If the Aggies want to win, they’ll have to hope senior quarterback Tyler Rogers has the game of his life.

Prediction

Although Arizona State didn’t have white the season it was expecting in 2016, the Sun Devils will have no problem dismantling New Mexico State. The Aggies were one of the worst teams in college football last year, going just 3-9 and 2-6 in the Sun Belt. That will show in this road contest against the hungry Sun Devils.

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Eager to put the 2016 season behind them and prove they belong among the Pac-12 contenders, Arizona State will dismantle the Aggies. It’ll race out to a 14-0 lead early before coasting into halftime with a 24-0 advantage. Arizona State will go up 31-0 before New Mexico State finally cracks the scoreboard.

Final Score: New Mexico State 17, Arizona State 34

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