ASU’S KEYS TO VICTORY
1. Disarm the pistol: The Sun Devils’ revamped defense gets its first real test of the season from an offense that has been much-talked-about in college football circles.
Nevada’s "pistol" is a ball-control offense that gets the ball to the backs in a hurry, so ASU must be stout against the run and have good anticipation.
2. Know your opponent: Last week, ASU’s fast-paced offense was often confused and humbled by Northern Arizona’s deceptive 3-3-5 defensive formation. Nevada uses a standard 3-4, so it should do little, if anything, that the Sun Devil coaches and players have not seen before.
3. Build a cushion: Against NAU, the expected quick, easy scores never came, and ASU was in a dogfight for much of the night. If the Sun Devils afford the Wolf Pack a chance to feel tough, they will be tougher — a lot tougher — than the Lumberjacks were.
WHEN ASU HAS THE BALL
The Sun Devils will try to display the offense they intended to show against NAU: between-the-tackles rushing, downfield passing, mixing things up. The screen pass to the tailback went for big plays last week, but coach Dirk Koetter does not want that to be ASU’s biggest weapon. As many as four tailbacks will get carries, Koetter said, including true freshman Dimitri Nance, who impressed in the fourth quarter a week ago.
Key matchup: ASU HB Brent Miller vs. Nevada LB Ezra Butler — As the Wolf Pack’s “bandit” linebacker, Butler is put in a variety of positions to give him the best opportunity to make plays. He regularly penetrates the backfield, so Miller will likely be counted on to block Butler on running plays and help prevent him from getting to the quarterback.
WHEN NEVADA HAS THE BALL
The pistol has been called a quick-scoring offense, but in reality, it does just the opposite. Nevada led the nation in possession time last year and aims to punish defenses by running between the tackles. Still, there are plenty of other options, including using quarterback Jeff Rowe to run. Rowe is an accurate downfield passer who throws very well while rolling out. The Wolf Pack will use multiple tight ends often.
Key matchup: Nevada WT Dominic Green vs. ASU WLB Derron Ware — Ware provided instant impact last week as a menacing blitzer, registering four sacks. The Sun Devils are not likely to bring the house as much this week, but Green — who should be a talent upgrade over NAU’s tackles — has no doubt noticed Ware on film and will be on the lookout for him.
INJURY REPORT
Nevada
PROBABLE: Uche Anyanwu (leg); WR Jack Darlington (concussion); WR Art King (hip); TE Anthony Pudewell (ankle)
Arizona State
OUT: DL Loren Howard (quadriceps); OL Zach Krula (ankle)
DOUBTFUL: S Troy Nolan (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: DL Tranell Morant (toe); OL Julius Orieukwu (knee) PROBABLE: S Rodney Cox (shoulder); WR Jeff Gray (shoulder); TE Dane Guthrie (hamstring); LB Robert James (hamstring); CB Littrele Jones (hamstring)
AT STAKE
The Sun Devils want to show that their lackluster performance last week was an aberration and build momentum heading into a two-game road swing that takes them to Colorado and California. For Nevada, a statement win against a top-25 team would ease the pain of last week’s disappointing loss at WAC rival Fresno State.
SCOUTING THE WOLF PACK
There’s a reason some have suggested that — even with Colorado on the schedule — Nevada will be ASU’s toughest nonconference game. The Wolf Pack have a slick offense headed by a quarterback who is a legit NFL prospect, an experienced defense and a Hall of Fame coach in Chris Ault who will make sure the team is prepared. Though the Wolf Pack lost at Fresno State, they should contend for a second straight WAC title.
WOLF PACK REPORT
STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE
WR — 89 Mike McCoy
ST — 75 Charles Manu
SG — 70 Barrett Reznick
C — 76 Jimmy Wadhams
WG — 60 Greg Hall
WT — 61 Dominic Green
TE — 83 Anthony Pudewell
WR — 87 Caleb Spencer
WR — 84 Marko Mitchell
QB — 3 Jeff Rowe
RB — 19 Robert Hubbard
DEFENSE
DE — 91 J.J. Milan
NT — 57 Matt Hines
DE — 48 Erics Clark
SLB — 44 Jeremy Engstrom
MLB — 33 Jason DeMars
WLB — 30 Joshua Mauga
LB — 56 Ezra Butler
CB — 23 Joe Garcia
CB — 4 De’Angelo Wilson
SS — 17 Uche Anyanwu
FS — 28 Nick Hawthrone
SUN DEVILS REPORT
STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE
WR — 1 Mike Jones
LT — 62 Brandon Rodd
LG — 73 Robert Gustavis
C — 76 Mike Pollak
RG — 66 Stephen Berg
RT — 52 Andrew Carnahan
TE — 86 Zach Miller
HB — 87 Brent Miller
WR — 17 Terry Richardson
QB — 12 Rudy Carpenter
TB — 24 Keegan Herring
DEFENSE
DE — 58 Dexter Davis
DT — 77 Michael Marquardt
DT — 1 Jordan Hill
DE — 50 Kyle Caldwell
SLB — 47 Gerald Munns
MLB — 25 Mike Nixon
WLB — 18 Derron Ware
CB — 8 Keno Walter-White
CB — 4 Justin Tryon
S — 19 Josh Barrett
S — 5 Zach Catanese
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Sun Devil Stadium
TV/Announcers: FSN Arizona/Trey Bender, Doug Plank and Jody Jackson
Radio: KTAR (620 AM) and ESPN (860 AM)
Records: Nevada 0-1, ASU 1-0
Rankings: Nevada unranked; ASU No. 25 Associated
Press/unranked USA Today (coaches)
Series: Nevada leads 2-0
Last meeting: Nov. 29, 1947 — Nevada 33, ASU 13
Line: ASU by 14 1/2
Tickets: Available at the Sun Devil Stadium ticket office, by calling (480) 727-0000 or (888) 786-3857 or online at www.thesundevils.com
