On New Year’s Day, the quarterfinal tripleheader starts in Mercedes-Benz Stadium with SEC runner-up Texas taking on the Big 12 champion Arizona State. Similar to the Fiesta Bowl, this game matches up teams that on paper appear not to produce a game that will be close without some assistance from the favorite. The Longhorns have been consistently in the top 5 for the year while Arizona State has been consistently climbing the rankings while continuing to win. Let’s get to the preview.
Series Record: Texas leads 1-0.
Last Meeting: The Longhorns beat the Sun Devils 52-34 in the 2007 Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Texas led by Jamaal Charles rushed for 300 yards and ran out to an early 21-0 1st quarter lead. Colt McCoy kicked in 258 yards and a couple of touchdowns.
Gambling Degenerate Facts: Texas is a 13-point favorite and is -503 on the money line with a point total of 51.5.
How Should a Refugee Watch This Game: This game is conference loyalty vs. what is best for us. If Texas loses, the SEC is overrated meme will have fuel thrown on the existing fire. If Texas wins, that keeps one of the teams built to compete with us in the playoff. I do think the way to watch this game is to see if Texas has improved over the 2 losses to Georgia around turnovers and penalties.
Interesting Statistic: 4.77 / 3.11 rushing yards per attempt (ASU) and defensed (Texas)
If ASU can’t get Cam Skattebo going, the Sun Devils have no chance to win. He had multiple games where he did not get close to 100 yards, and they haven’t really faced a defense with the athletes that Texas will put on the MBS turf. It’s going to be tough sledding for Arizona State to keep the ball moving and the Texas offense off the field.
Early Outlook
Arizona State hasn’t played a team to date with the talent level and the athleticism of Texas. I just really think this is a bad match-up for the Sun Devils. Let’s put it this way. They beat the worst team in the SEC (Mississippi State) by 7 at home in the 2nd game of the season. Texas beat the Bizarro Dogs by 22 in Austin with Arch Manning at quarterback.
For ASU to win, they are going to need turnovers and special teams to create field position and to control the clock and field position with the running game. That just doesn’t seem like too narrow of a path to pull a big upset.
Texas wins and covers to get ready to play in a semifinal in front of what will be a home field advantage at Jerry World in the Cotton Bowl against the Oregon-Ohio State winner.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
Agree with your assessment and prediction
I think the line should be more.
I’ll say…Holsteins by 24.
I’d love to see ASU pull off the upset, even if it means further degrading of the SEC. The sports blabberers on TV are going to do that anyway.
On the other hand, a beat down of ASU will further demonstrate the futility of the current playoff system (numbers) although I doubt the brain dead bozos on The Committee will acknowledge it.
I hope Texas loses just to spite Sankey after his disrespect to our team in the SECCG.
“The Longhorns have been consistently in the top 5 for the year…” The SEC may not be overrated, but there are some troubling signs…
Fuck those Big12 T-sips and the a$$holes that let them in our once great conference.
I wouldn’t be surprised for some early excitement and fireworks with ASU keeping it in reach as the second half comes to a close. Without question, UT has the players to run away with this game early and never let up. But will Sark coach loose and free and let his talent advantage take over from the first snap or will he coach tight like he did in the two games against Georgia? My guess is that since it is not Georgia on the opposing sideline they turn it loose and easily cover even with ASU doing a few exciting things early in the game to give SEC haters hope.
Texas in a blowout. ASU is one dimensional and the horns size and speed will overwhelm their OL. Texas will choke against the BigX winner.