At stake: At 3-6, the Sun Devils are still in the bowl picture if they can win their final three games. With WSU and UCLA the next two weeks, it's possible that the Sun Devils could be playing for bowl eligibility against Arizona in the final week. The Cougars finally showed their offense still had a pulse in a 59-28 loss to Arizona. Morale was up all week around the team, and this is the first time they enter a game with any kind of confidence.
What to expect: Arizona State may be one of the few teams on the Cougars' schedule not able to run the score on the Cougars, and even if they can, don't expect it. Dennis Erickson is a friend and mentor to Paul Wulff. If WSU can eliminate turnovers — they have more than anyone in the nation with 33 — this game could be competitive into the second half. But WSU's defense hasn't shown it can stop anyone, and don't expect that to change with QB Rudy Carpenter directing the opposing offense.
Notes: Carpenter has started 40 consecutive games, longest streak of any quarterback in the country. Carpenter is the active Pac-10 leader in passing attempts, completed passes, passing yards, touchdown passes and 300-yard games. ... With 10,053 passing yards, Carpenter needs just 340 yards to pass Andrew Walter as Arizona State's all-time leading passer. ... FS Troy Nolan returned a fumble recovery 44 yards for a TD last week at Washington. The previous week at Oregon State, Nolan returned an interception 41 yards for a score. ... The Sun Devils have played 10 true freshmen this season, most in school history. WSU has played five. ... Brandon Gibson has caught a pass in 33 consecutive games. ... With 40 kickoff returns, Chantz Staden is just one short of the Pac-10 season record of 41 by Oregon State's Dwayne Owens (1990). ... Arizona State has won four straight in the series and is 20-12-2 overall against WSU.
Injuries: WSU — RB Chris Ivory (hamstring), LB Myron Beck (hand) out. CB Tyrone Justin (ankle) is doubtful. Andy Mattingly (ankle) is questionable. ASU — G Zach Schlink (knee), DT David Smith (neck) are out. S Clint Floyd (kidney) is questionable.
Prediction: Nothing rejuvenates a season like getting the Washington schools back-to-back. ASU 49, WSU 21.
