The Arizona State Sun Devils’ 2015 season got off to a bad start, as they lost to the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday. It’s not the end of the world for the Sun Devils, however, as they have lots of games to make up for that setback. With an FCS team in the Cal Poly Mustangs visiting them in Tempe, will the Sun Devils finally record their first win of the season? Or will the Mustangs steal an upset victory at Sun Devil Stadium?
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Cal Poly Mustangs vs. Arizona State Sun Devils Preview
One more game and the Mustangs are going to have their first home stand of the season. And they can expect a wild party awaiting them in San Luis Obispo next week if they can carry with them a win at the expense of Arizona State.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]After defusing the Montana Grizzlies, 20-19, in their season debut, the Mustangs head to Tempe, targeting their second win in a row. They are 3-2 ATS in their last five games against an FBS team.
Against the Grizzlies, dual-threat quarterback Chris Brown made full use of his legs, as he ran for 130 yards and scored a rushing touchdown on 24 carries. With the Mustangs’ backfield finding success on the ground—Cal Poly had 330 total rushing yards—the team made minimal effort to attack Montana’s passing defense, as Brown threw for only 56 yards with a touchdown.
Arizona State boasts a far more superior front seven than the Grizzlies, so it would be wise for Brown to sling more balls in their upcoming game just to keep the Sun Devils’ defense on its toes.
That means added work for the Mustangs’ receiving corps, which includes senior wideout Roland Jackson Jr. Jackson only got two receptions in the Montana game but had 47 receiving yards and caught the lone receiving score for Cal Poly.
Jackson is a deep-threat weapon that led the team last season with 415 receiving yards on an average of 37.7 yards per catch. Running back Kori Garcia, meanwhile, is another skilled playmaker on the Cal Poly roster. Garcia, who rushed for 49 yards on 15 carries against Montana, had 1,039 yards on just 157 attempts in 2014.
For these players to be effective, though, Cal Poly’s offensive line will have to be at its best. Up front for the Mustangs against Arizona State is an experienced protection unit that returns five starters.
Arizona State was supposed to be an offensive juggernaut this season. But as the Texas A&M Aggies demonstrated through their 38-17 win on Saturday, the Sun Devils’ offense can be locked down. All is not lost for the Sun Devils, though, and they can iron out some of the wrinkles beginning on Saturday, when they host Cal Poly for their home opener. They are 5-0 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five games as the home team.
Following a tough loss to Texas A&M, a matchup against a lowly FCS team like Cal Poly should be a great way for the Sun Devils to bounce back and get their mojo back. Quarterback Mike Bercovici, who struggled against the Aggies’ incessant pressure (he was sacked nine times) should face a lighter defense against Cal Poly. After all, Texas A&M’s defense might be one of the best in the nation this season with defensive coordinator John Chavis at the helm. Cal Poly, on the other hand, gave up 459 passing yards to Montana.
With that said, Bercovici should have more time this coming Saturday to eye his receivers such as D.J. Foster and Ellis Jefferson, who combined for just 117 receiving yards on 10 catches against Texas A&M.
Speaking of defense, the Sun Devils have to prevent Cal Poly’s quarterback Chris Brown from getting anything going, particularly on the ground. Putting Brown on a leash would definitely cripple the Mustangs’ offense that got 186 total yards from the quarterback last time out.
