2011 Arizona State Football Predictions

Written by Steve Janus

The Arizona State Sun Devils finished the 2010 season with a disappointing 6-6 record overall and 4-5 record in what was then the PAC-10. What really has to eat at this team is they had four losses by four-points or less and only lost to Oregon by 11. With 15 starters back for the 2011 season Arizona State will likely come into year as the favorites to win the South. The only team that figures to challenge them is USC, but they aren’t eligible to play in the inaugural Pac-12 Title game.

Here is a closer look at who the Sun Devils will send to the field on both sides of the ball, plus my prediction on where they will finish the year in the PAC-12.

Offense:

Arizona State figured to have some quarterback controversy this season with 2010 starter Steven Threet and junior Brock Osweiler, but Threet was forced to leave the team because of a concussion he suffered late last year. Threet started the first 11 games and wound up throwing for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns, but also had 16 interceptions (3rd most NCAA). Osweiler stepped in for Threet against UCLA and led the Sun Devils to a come back win and then helped them win a double-overtime thriller against Arizona in the season finale. Osweiler threw for 797 yards with 5 touchdowns and no interceptions and was also the third leading rusher with 124 yards. While the job is now Osweiler’s to lose, I actually think he would have won the job even if Threet had returned.

Arizona State showed some solid improvements in the running game last year, and with the return of 2010 leading rusher Cameron Marshall (787 yards, 9 touchdowns) and sophomore backup Deantre Lewis (539 yards, 4 touchdowns), they should have one of the best rushing attacks in the PAC-12 this season, especially with the added mobility Osweiler gives them at the quarterback position.

The big concern offensively for the Sun Devils is who will step up and be a threat at wide receiver. They lose 2010 leading wide out Kerry Taylor, who caught 54 passes for 699 yards and three scores, and could be without their second leading receiver in T.J. Simpson, who tore his ACL in March. Seniors Mike Willie, Gerell Robinson, and Aaron Pflugrad are the three guys who will start, and Arizona State needs at least two of them to have a big year.

Arizona State returns all five starters on the offensive line, and that is a big reason why I look for this team to really improve the ground game from last year. Sophomore Evan Finkenberg was impressive as a redshirt freshman last year, and should be a force at left tackle. They also have one of the top centers in the country in senior Garth Gerhart. As long as this unit stays healthy, the Sun Devils should have no trouble putting points on the board.

Defense:

Up front on the defensive line the Sun Devils figure to put a ton of pressure on the opposing quarterback with the return of sophomore Junior Onyeali and senior Jamaar Jarrett at the two defensive end spots. The two combined for 11 sacks in 2010, and with Onyeali only figuring to improve in his second season I could see them teaming up for close to 20 sacks in 2011. They do have to replace both starters at defensive tackle. Heading into the fall it looks like senior Bo Moos and sophomore William Sutton have the edge at the starting jobs, but should also get solid contributions from freshman Mo Latu and junior Corey Adams.

As strong as the Sun Devils look on the defensive line, the strength of the defense will come at the three starting linebacker spots. All three starters return from last year, including the highest rated inside linebacker in the country in junior Vontaze Burfict, who led the team with 90 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss.

Even though Arizona State returns junior starting corner Deveron Carr and senior free safety Eddie Elder, the secondary is a big concern for the Sun Devils heading into 2011. Last year the Sun Devils allowed 245 yards a game through the air, and with teams likely not being able to run against them, this unit will be tested early and often. Sophomore Osahon Irabor looks like the top candidate to take over alongside Carr at the other starting corner spot, while senior Clint Floyd should step in and start at strong safety.

PAC-12 Prediction: 1st PAC-12 South - This should be the best team head coach Dennis Erickson has had since he went 10-3 in his first year back in 2007. Even though USC should return to form in 2011, the Sun Devils get the Trojans at home. They avoid playing Stanford out of the North in the regular season, but if everything goes as planned they should meet up with the Cardinal in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

PAC-12 Football Predictions by Team
Oregon Football Predictions	Utah Football Predictions
Oregon State Football Predictions	USC Football Predictions
California Football Predictions	UCLA Football Predictions
Stanford Football Predictions	Colorado Football Predictions
Washington Football Predictions	Arizona Football Predictions
Washington State Football Predictions	Arizona State Football Predictions

College Football Predictions
ACC Football Predictions	Big 12 Football Predictions
Conference USA Football Predictions	Independents Football Predictions
PAC 12 Football Predictions	SEC Football Predictions
Big East Football Predictions	Big Ten Football Predictions
MAC Football Predictions	Mountain West Football Predictions
Sun Belt Football Predictions	WAC Football Predictions

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