Utah Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Arizona State in Week 8

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BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 27: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils warms up prior to the start of an NCAA football game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on September 27, 2019 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

2. Jayden Daniels has a big day through the air

Jayden Daniels has been given more bit by bit every week he’s been the starting quarterback for the Sun Devils. This game he’ll have a big day passing because he has to.

Junior tailback Eno Benjamin hasn’t quite gotten it going this season. He was the beneficiary of a terrible defense in Washington State last week, but play this week against a Utah defense that has surrendered less than 60 yards rushing per game.

Utah is going to be aggressive in how they attack Daniels. As they take away the run game, expect them to blitz Daniels in second and third-and-long situations. Blitzing opens up man coverage most times, and if there’s a small chink in the armor of the Utah defense it’s that safety help comes late over the top sometimes on the deep ball. Their safeties are talented, but inexperienced with one safety being a converted corner back.

Daniels will use his legs to escape the blitz, but when the Utes decide to contain, not collapse the pocket Daniels will have to hang in there and throw. If he can take advantage of man coverage from the pocket, he can have a big passing day.

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