Arizona State football will have Utah on upset alert in Week 8

While it may look like Utah has every advantage in the book, Arizona State football will have the Utes on upset alert in Week 8.

The most pivotal Pac-12 game of the season goes down in Utah on Saturday night. The Utes are the winners, hands down, in virtually every statistic on paper so this should be a smooth victory.

Not so fast. 

The Sun Devils are far from a pushover and not an easy victory, by any means.  Arizona State’s defense has that aggressive/toughness factor that has worked in their favor to literally beat down opposing offenses late in the game. That defense is by no means dominating but they come up big when needed.

On the other hand, the Utes have a very stout, tough defense ready for war on Saturday night as well only allowing 52.8 yards per game rushing.

If you were to judge this game on paper it would lead you to instantly choose Utah over Arizona State. The Utes have a solid formula that has worked for them well this season with a steady rushing attack led by Zack Moss. The Sun Devils have their own stud in the backfield in Eno Benjamin who has put up impressive numbers all season. Arizona State will win this game because it has the nation’s biggest sleeper at wide out Brandon Aiyuk.

This kid is an elite athlete who has balled all season.

Utah does not have the athletes to match up with this young man and I believe he will be the deciding X-factor for Arizona State on Saturday night — he has 31 catches for 651 yards and five touchdowns on the year.

Utah doesn’t have the personnel to match up with this passing attack. Couple that with Benjamin in the backfield who has been solid in his yardage all season and you have the recipe for an upset in Utah on Saturday night.

The Utes have a solid squad but they just don’t have enough to beat Arizona State even though they are the favorites to win. Laugh at the prediction but understand it later when it happens.