Arizona @ Arizona State preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 2, 2010 ) Arizona State 30, Arizona 29

THE STORY: Arizona State has suffered back-to-back disappointing losses and can ill afford a third consecutive stumble as it hosts Arizona. The Sun Devils are competing with UCLA to be the Pac-12 South’s representative in the conference title game and UCLA holds the tiebreaker because of its win over Arizona State two weeks ago. The Sun Devils stumbled against last week when they lost at woeful Washington State. Arizona was routed by Colorado last week and is experiencing a miserable season that included the midseason firing of coach Mike Stoops.

TV: FSN. LINE: Arizona State -11.

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (6-4, 4-3 Pac-12 South): The Sun Devils are 5-0 at home and have averaged 42.2 points. Sophomore quarterback Brock Osweiler passed for 351 yards against Washington State for his fifth career 300-yard passing game. Osweiler has passed for 2,890 yards and 20 touchdowns to go with eight interceptions. Junior running back Cameron Marshall has 837 yards and leads the Pac-12 with 14 rushing touchdowns. The school record of 18 is shared by Woody Green (1972) and Terry Battle (1996). Sophomore safety Alden Darby and senior safety Clint Floyd share the team lead with three interceptions.

ABOUT ARIZONA (2-8, 1-7): The Wildcats have lost seven consecutive road games. Senior quarterback Nick Foles had 352 yards in the loss to Colorado while becoming the school’s all-time leader with 9,289 passing yards to pass Willie Tuitama (9,221 from 2005-08). Foles has thrown for 3,612 yards and needs 72 to pass Tuitama’s single-season record set in 2007. Foles has 23 touchdowns against 13 interceptions, but has been picked off eight times over the last three games. Senior receiver Juron Criner has 29 touchdown receptions, one shy of the school record held by Theopolis Bell (1972-75). Arizona’s pass rush has delivered only eight sacks. Senior cornerback Trevin Wade (12 career interceptions) is expected back after missing the Colorado game with a leg injury.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Arizona leads the series 46-37-1, but Arizona State won last year’s meeting 30-29 in double overtime.

2. Arizona State’s Jamal Miles has returned two kickoffs and one punt for touchdowns this season.

3. The Wildcats have lost 10 games only once - the 2003 squad that went 2-10 under John Mackovic.

PREDICTION: Arizona State 41, Arizona 23 - The Sun Devils snap out of their doldrums against an Arizona squad playing out the string under interim coach Tim Kish.