The Hyundai Sun Bowl between the 15th ranked Arizona State Sun Devils and Duke Blue Devils takes place on Saturday afternoon from El Paso, Texas. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on CBS. Currently the odds for the game have the Sun Devils favored by a comfortable margin in this one.
The battle of the Devils in the Sun Bowl just seems like the right thing, doesn’t it? Arizona State is ranked 15th in the country but comes in having lost two of their last three games overall. The Sun Devils dropped games to Oregon State and Arizona, both games they could have won. They did play a very tough schedule, considerably harder than Duke’s, which should have them prepared for this one.
The Sun Devils averaged 37 points per game this season while Duke comes in averaging 32.5 points per gam themselves, a pretty solid number.
This game could come down to the solid play of a quarterback. Duke’s Anthony Boone hasn’t been steady this season, especially not playing well in any of the three losses, averaging just 20-of-44 completions in those games. Being accurate against Arizona State will be critical for the Blue Devils, but Boone is just under 57 percent for the entire season. He ranked toward the bottom of the conference in passer rating and yards per attempt as well.
Arizona State’s going to go (probably) with both quarterbacks as Taylor Kelly will start the game. Expect Mike Bercovici to play in this one as well, as the Sun Devils will be looking to get action from both guys. Kelly started the season and threw 20 touchdown passes before getting injured.
Aside from quarterbacks, running backs D.J. Foster of Arizona State (1,600-plus all-purpose yards) had 12 touchdowns. Receiver Jalen Strong is one of the best in the conference with 75 catches and 1,062 yards through the air, catching 10 touchdowns. Duke has a very good receiver in Jamison Crowder, who caught 78 passes for nearly 950 yards and six touchdowns.
While the offenses will both find a way to score points, the defense that plays better will determine the outcome in this one. Arizona State is looking to win 10 games for a second straight season for the first time in 40 years and they have a talented defense. Duke will struggle to slow the Sun Devils down.
Free Pick: Arizona State 34, Duke 24
College Football Free Picks: Duke vs Arizona State (Sun Bowl)
What college football bettors need to know about betting Duke Blue Devils vs Arizona State Sun Devils in the Sun Bowl on Saturday (12/27/14) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Teddy Covers with added insight from Pauly Howard.
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