Arizona State football looks to bounce back vs. UCLA in Week 9

Arizona State football is coming off just its second loss of the season. Can the Sun Devils get back on course and become bowl eligible versus UCLA?

The Arizona State Sun Devils are off to one of their best starts in recent years but enter their match up with a loss versus Utah. In just his second season as head coach, Herm Edwards has the Sun Devils at the top of the conference and ranked inside the AP Poll.

Arizona State is currently in fourth place of the Pac-12 South division but is still very much alive to make the conference title game.

For the UCLA Bruins, it has been a season to forget. UCLA is 2-5 on the season and has been one of the most inconsistent teams in all of college football. Their two wins include a 67-63 win over then ranked Washington State and from their most recent outing, a 34-16 win over UCLA. But losses to San Diego State and Oregon State have Chip Kelly’s seat heating fast.

The Sun Devils should win this game but this one is a wild card as it depends on which UCLA team will show up.

Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s game between Arizona State and UCLA:

Date: Saturday, Oct. 26
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Pasadena, Calif.
Venue: Rose Bowl
TV: Pac-12 Network
Live Stream: Pac-12 Network Live

Keys to Victory

For the Arizona State Spartans, getting in the end zone quickly will quickly regain the team’s confidence. After scoring just three points versus Utah, the Sun Devils need to get back to scoring and the best way to do that is let Jayden Daniels go to work. The freshman quarterback has performed well in his first season under center and determines where this offense goes.

For the Sun Devil defense, they need to eliminate big plays and keep everything in front of them. Allowing just 18.1 points per game has the Sun Devils defense as on of the most underrated in the nation.

For the UCLA Bruins they need to establish a game plan offensively and stick to it. They’re averaging over 400 yards a game but just over 27 points per game.

This is time for Chip Kelly to do what he does best and put his offense to the test. On defense, the Bruins need to keep Jayden Daniels contained. Daniels can throw while moving outside of the pocket and is not afraid to tuck it and run for the first down.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of The Action Network

Point Spread: Arizona State -4
Over/under: 55.5

Prediction

It is going to be a perfect night for some early Pac-12 action. The Bruins and Sun Devils keep things close as both offenses score quickly. As halftime approaches, Daniels takes advantage of a late UCLA turnover and scrambles for a touchdown to give the Sun Devils the lead at the half. Both teams trade scores in the third quarter but in the fourth quarter, the Sun Devils defense shutdown the Bruins and come out of the Rose Bowl victorious and bowl eligible.

Final Score: Arizona State 38, UCLA 27