Matchup: #21 Fresno State vs. Arizona State
Location: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Date and Time: December, 15th. 3:30 PM EST.
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Background Information:
It was pretty deflating news when Sun Devils fans found out that N’Keal Harry would forgo the bowl game and declare for the NFL Draft. After a up and down start, Arizona State is playing hot at the right time, winning 4 of their last 5 contests. RB Eno Benjamin has turned into a star year as his 1,524 yards and 15 touchdowns is among the best in the NCAA. Especially with Harry being out of this game and the lack of explosive playmakers on the outside, Benjamin might be relied on pretty heavily in this matchup. Head Coach Jeff Tedford has done a masterful job of turning Fresno State around in such a short amount of time. After Tim DeRuyter had some success in his first years in 2012 and 2013, FSU fell off and they needed a change. Tedford is 21-6 and is making a name for himself as one of the best Non-Power 5 coaches in the country. For Fresno State as a team, it was QB Marcus McMaryion that surprised everybody and led the Bulldogs to a 10-2 record, including avenging their lone conference loss to Boise State by beating them in the MWC Championship, 19-16. It’s the 3rd MW Title in 8 years and the potential of finishing with 12 wins would be amazing for the program moving forward.
Players to watch out for:
Fresno State:
Offensively, it’s the main duo of RB’s in Jordan Mims and Ronnie Rivers. Neither put up crazy numbers, but are extremely effective and can hurt your defense in multiple ways. Mims has 436 rushing yards and Rivers has 531, but they have been reliable receivers as well with both over 250 yards and 6 touchdowns between the 2. Although Arizona State is at about average in run defense, the versatility the two have out of the backfield could give fits for DC Herm Edwards. Defensively, it’s Senior Anthoula Kelly that will be commanding things. Fresno State is not great at rushing the passer, but is among the best in the conference in creating turnovers and 4 of them are from Kelly. On the season, Kelly has 55 tackles, 3 interceptions (including a touchdown), 16 pass deflections (1st in the MW, 3rd in NCAA), and a forced fumble. Junior Mike Bell is another playmaker in the back end as he is 3rd on the team in tackles as well as collecting 3 interceptions of his own.
Arizona State:
The legs of QB Manny Wilkins. With Harry forgoing the game, The backfield will be a place Fresno State might have to turn to. But due to the lack of pressure up front, ASU should be able to run the football in more ways than one. The combo of Benjamin and Wilkins has accumulated 23 touchdowns on the year and that number should grow once this game is over. Defensively, there’s a couple of Freshman that have had to step up and play a ton. One is LB Merlin Robertson. At 6’3 235, Robertson is all over the field with his team leading 77 tackles. He also leads the team in TFL and Sacks and also added an interception. The other half is S Aashari Crosswell who leads the team in interceptions and pass deflections.
Keys to a Win:
Fresno State:
Make Arizona State stick to airing it out. The Sun Devils are going to want to run the football and the key to success for Fresno State defensively is to force Wilkins to make some good throws. Wilkins is a good passer as well as a runner, but without a first round talent on the field will other receivers step up? Brandon Aiyuk and Frank Darby are going to have to make plays and how good FSU’s secondary is, I wouldn’t be surprised if ASU offense sputters if Fresno State can make them one dimensional. Fresno State is in the top 30 in Pass Defense and 12th in forcing turnovers. If they make ASU air it out, FSU will be able to hang around.
Arizona State:
As it has been stated before, running the football. When you have a 1,500 yard All-Pac 12 RB, you’ve got to feed him as much as you can and limit turnovers. Fresno State is really good at forcing them and the Bulldogs don’t cough it up themselves very often. Someone like backup Isiah Floyd could be used to try to catch FSU off guard and test a very experienced defense as a whole.
Final Verdict:
Marcus Mcmaryion and the versatile rushing attack in the end will be too much for Arizona State’s defense to handle as Fresno State ends a magical season of going 12-2 and finishing the season off with a Las Vegas Bowl win. Fresno State 31, Arizona State 21
Image Credit: https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/videos/sports/2017/10/12/meet-marcus-mcmaryion/106570196/
