Thursday, September 25, 2014

Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe

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Fox Sports 1 gets a great game Thursday night as two undefeated teams get set to do battle for Pac-12 supremacy. The #11 UCLA Bruins have rolled off three close wins against quality components to come into the game 3-0. #15 Arizona State (3-0) also sport a perfect record after running through the early part of their schedule, literally running behind the nation's #8 leading rusher in D.J. Foster.

UCLA had to go to their backup two weeks ago against Texas. Starting QB and Heisman Trophy candidate Brett Hundley completed his first four passes of the game before exiting with an elbow injury. Enter 2nd stringer Jerry Neuheisel who used a conservative attack to complete 23/30 passes for 178 yards and 2TD, including a score with 3:00 left to come back from a 13-17 deficit and capture the 20-17 win. Hundley is expected to return against ASU in what should be a tough game in the desert.

Foster has racked up 510 yards through 3 games for the Sun Devils and is expected to have a more prominent role against the Bruins as ASU's starting QB Taylor Kelly has been ruled out. Kelly injured his foot in a win over Colorado on September 13th but will miss the battle with UCLA. The Sun Devils begin a hectic 3-game stretch against the Bruins, USC, and Stanford, which is hard enough without having to rely on a backup QB. That signal caller in question is Mike Bercovici, a junior that has thrown 24 passes in his 3-years in Phoenix including 9/17 with a TD after Kelly's injury.

Even though Arizona State is the home team, it's fathomable to think that momentum is shifting in UCLA's direction while they get their star-signal caller back while the Sun Devils must deal with the first game without theirs. Prior to Kelly's injury, the Sun Devils were set to be the aggressors over their higher ranked opponent with a Thursday night game in front of their home crowd with the nation's 7th highest scoring offense going to work. Either way, if past indications are a sign of the gameplay it should be a close one as the last 3 contests have been decided by a total of 8 points, including a 38-33 Sun Devil win in L.A last season.

UCLA Bruins Betting Trends

UCLA Bruins are 0-3-0 Against the Spread

UCLA Bruins are 1-2-0 against the Over/Under

Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Trends

Arizona State Sun Devils are 1-2-0 Against the Spread

Arizona State Sun Devils are 1-2-0 against the Over/Under

Injuries to Watch

UCLA Bruins

09/22/14 DB Anthony Jefferson Ankle probable Thursday vs. Arizona State
09/22/14 DB Randall Goforth Shoulder out for season
09/21/14 QB Brett Hundley Elbow injured last game, "?" Thursday vs. Arizona State
09/21/14 WR Eldridge Massington Ankle "?" Thursday vs. Arizona State
09/21/14 P Matt Mengel Leg injured last game, "?" Thursday vs. Arizona State
09/21/14 LB Myles Jack Ankle "?" Thursday vs. Arizona State
09/03/14 RB Steven Manfro Knee out for season
08/10/14 OT Simon Goines Knee out indefinitely
08/02/14 WR Austin Roberts Knee out for season

Arizona State Sun Devils

09/22/14 LB Laiu Moeakiola Shoulder "?" Thursday vs. UCLA
09/22/14 QB Mike Bercovici None expected to start Thursday vs. UCLA
09/22/14 WR Tyler Whiley Undisclosed "?" Thursday vs. UCLA
09/21/14 DB Ezekiel Bishop Undisclosed "?" Thursday vs. UCLA
09/21/14 QB Taylor Kelly Foot out indefinitely
09/05/14 DT Corey Smith Hip out for season
08/14/14 LB Carlos Mendoza Knee out indefinitely

Josh's Pick: Take Arizona State

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