Hot in AZ - Bucky @ ASU -

The OL and secondary has been particularly good albeit UMass and Tennessee Tech aren't much in terms of competition.  That changes dramatically this weekend with ASU.

The Devils have a very good QB and several good WRs and this defense will be tested for sure.   I'm not as concerned about the ASU defense but they will be much better than the other two teams they've faced no matter what.

Big Ten teams have really struggled on the road playing Pac Ten teams over recent years.   My personal opinion is that next to the Ohio $tate game in a few weeks this will be their toughest game of the year.  If they can survive this test and win they have a chance to really have a decent year.  If they lose, I wouldn't really be surprised either.  ASU is probably good enough to be a top 25 team and winning on the road against good teams is always difficult.

If I had to guess a score I'd take something like 28-24 Badgers.

Conversely, the Pac Ten doesn't see a running game with this much breakaway ability and beef up front. I know the conventional wisdom is to think that this game is a game to worry about- that ASU is somehow going to make this game tough and the team has their work cut out for them. I don't see it that way. I think Anderson is too good a coach for a team like ASU to "sneak up on them".

The teams that represent the biggest threat to the Badgers are ones that are elite. The Badgers will beat the crap out of ASU, and it isn't because the Sun Devils aren't very good- it's because the Badgers are a top 10 team with top 10 talent, and they will destroy teams with less talent. The running game will continue to lead the way, and the defense is a lot better than people realize.

Badgers 41, Sun Devils 17

It's going to be a tough, close game.  

I'm surprised to see ASU players shooting their mouths off, though:

"Leverage, staying low, using hands, correct feet," Bradford said when asked how to stand up to the UW line. "I think we'll blow them off the ball."

"We'll get some of those guys biting up and stepping up on the play. It allows us to take a step and then get vertical and we'll blow right past them."

I hope that means that these guys are feeling a little too good about themselves.  

102 degrees for a high, probably 95 at kickoff

I do not get to see many Badgers games down here, but I will be watching this one.  Very excited to see if the D is for real.

Arizona State is a 5 1/2 point favorite- at least this morning anyway

I was concerned coming into the year about the young secondary and they are really going to be challenged tonight

Should be a good one

My brother made the trip.

10:30 P.M kick-off is killing me----old dudes need their sleep.

It's only 9:30 LFT Blair

But yeah, its a loooong wait and I did way too much work around the house today, I'm beat!

I am on Jaguar time.

10:30.

There is enough wine----is there enough fortitude in me not to pass out? This has the makings of one of the better non-conference games in the last 10-15 years.

I agree...it should be a good game.

I am trying to hold off on the JD for a bit..

Is there any chance the last 10mins of this early game can play out in 20 minutes?

Will they switch?

Just said they'd make it. Kick-off in 5.

The Deuce to start!

GOOO BUCKY!!!!

ESPN just showed a picture of a black Chris Borland.

Who knew?

The trident for the field arrows does nothing for me.

They have gum on the field?

Wow!!

Wasn't that a pick?!?!

A hold. We'll take that.

That's a pick!!!!!!!

lol no, the normal yard arrows are their logo... the flaming trident or something

Bull.

BS

Time for a 98 yd drive!

There's a few of us in the shiny new Badgers chat room if anyone else wants to stop by!!

What a crap-ass homer call.

That was a pick---no question.

Completely homer call. 

Now lets go D!!

TD BUCKY!!!!

AWESOME pass by Stave to Pederson!

great job by the STs on the bad snap.

The D needs to start making stops!

Stave's way too slow getting rid of the ball.

He seems slow on decision making for sure, hoping it's the youth...

nice start to second half!

The weak link is the QB- pretty serious weak link to have. I thought Bart Houston was supposed to be good. I'd like to see him with some game action. All the young DBs are too vulnerable as well, although I think they'll be fine by next year. Bucky is going to miss the Rose this time, unfortunately.

Defense held up pretty well until lately.  Being on the field for 85+ plays will do that.  Stave = not ready for prime time.

Borland with the pass of the game!

W - T - F !!!!

Complete screw job by the officials. That level of incompetence is inexcusable.

Amazing.

Shameful.

That may have been a bigger screw job than the Packer/Seahawks game last year.  That entire crew should lose their jobs.  Completely unacceptable for those kids to work their asses off, only to lose because the officials had their heads up their asses.

Unreal. This is the Fail Mary of College Football. How the hell the officials let an ASU guy just sit on the ball for the last 10 seconds and not stop the clock is beyond belief.

What a joke.

... that's all on the Play call, it was stupid to even attempt a run, absolutely stupid.

As soon as Abrecadabra got out of bounds you send in the kicking team the way Stave the statue was thinking throughout the night.