ASU football game day

SUN DEVILS KEYS TO VICTORY

 1. KEEP THE MOMENTUM: So, ASU’s last two opponents, Washington and Washington State, are a combined 2-21? Big deal. Wins are wins and the Sun Devils need to channel their newfound confidence into a good performance against a beatable UCLA squad. What would help is …

2. A GOOD START: Even against the woeful Washington schools, ASU was slow out of the gate — a problem that has plagued the team throughout coach Dennis Erickson’s two-year tenure. If the Sun Devils come out in a funk, the UCLA defense is good enough to keep them there.

ASUs 15 seniors have experienced ups, downs

3. HARASS CRAFT: Quarterback Kevin Craft has done his best since being pressed into service due to injuries to Patrick Cowan and Ben Olson. But he has been prone to picks, with nine interceptions and no touchdowns in the last three games. ASU’s defense, which has scored a touchdown in three straight games, should be salivating.

THE INTRIGUE

The main story line is simple: This is a bowl elimination game, as someone will suffer the seventh loss that drops it from postseason consideration. The winner will go into its Dec. 6 rivalry game — ASU at Arizona, UCLA at home against USC — with all the extra motivation it should need: a win, and it is bowling time.

INJURY REPORT

UCLA

Out: DE Tom Blake (hernia); LB Kyle Bosworth (knee); QB Patrick Cowan (knee); QB Ben Olson (foot); OL Darius Savage (knee); RB Trevor Theriot (knee); Questionable: LB Joshua Edwards (foot); TE Logan Paulsen (foot); Probable: DL Korey Bosworth (back); LB Chase Moline (back); DT Brian Price (hamstring)

ARIZONA STATE

Out: OL Matt Hustad (knee); TE Dan Knapp (knee); LB Colin Parker (knee); OL Zach Schlink (knee); DT David Smith (stinger); S Max Tabach (knee); Doubtful: LB Jeff Bereuter (elbow); CB Jonathan Clark (knee); Probable: S Clint Floyd (kidney)

PREDICTIONS

Scott Bordow: ASU is on a roll with two straight wins. OK, beating Washington and Washington State doesn’t constitute a roll. But it’s better than having your head kicked in six straight weeks. If the game were at UCLA, I’d be tempted to take the Bruins. But at Sun Devil Stadium, the Sun Devils will prevail.

ASU 28, UCLA 17.

Jerry Brown: Am I rock solid on this one? Nope. Am I hoping like all get out that the Sun Devils and Wildcats meet in Tucson for a bowl bid? Oh yeah. It’s about the only thing left that will make this season salvageable.

ASU 31, UCLA 21.

ASU AT A GLANCE

Scouting the Sun Devils: Nobody will confuse UCLA with crosstown rival Southern California any time soon, but the Bruins are good enough to determine if ASU’s last two wins were legitimate or fool’s gold. ASU has run the ball successfully, but the fact that no back has commanded the primary ball-carrying duties could suggest that not all is well with that facet of the offense. The Sun Devils need it to be, because the receivers having room to work in the secondary has made all the difference for quarterback Rudy Carpenter. Slot receiver Kyle Williams, who had two touchdown catches against Washington State, could be emerging as a threat.

Offense

SE — 1 Michael Jones

LT — 59 Jon Hargis

LG — 52 Garth Gerhart

C — 56 Thomas Altieri

RG — 63 Paul Fanaika

RT — 67 Shawn Lauvao

TE — 88 Andrew Pettes

SLOT — 5 Kerry Taylor

FL — 13 Chris McGaha

QB — 12 Rudy Carpenter

RB — 36 Shaun DeWitty

Defense

DE — 58 Dexter Davis

DT — 50 Lawrence Guy

DT — 54 Paul Unga

DE — 49 Luis Vasquez

SLB — 44 Travis Goethel

MLB — 52 Morris Wooten

WLB — 25 Mike Nixon

CB — 3 Omar Bolden

CB — 5 Terell Carr

FS — 14 Troy Nolan

SS — 22 Rodney Cox

Passing        Att    Com    Pct    Yds    TD    Int

Carpenter        294    187    63.6    2,268    15    7

Sullivan        43    15    34.9    151    1    2

Rushing            Att    Yds    Avg    Lg    TD

Nance            98    390    4.0    18    3

Herring            78    338    4.3    29    3

DeWitty            59    265    4.5    54    0

Receiving            No.    Yds    Avg    Lg    TD

M. Jones            52    668    12.8    52    4

McGaha            29    432    14.9    46    1

Taylor            26    392    15.1    52    3

Pettes            19    144    7.6    22    2

• ASU offense ranks 79th in nation (107th rush, 35th pass)

• ASU defense ranks 45th in nation (47th rush, 36th pass)

UCLA AT A GLANCE

Scouting the Bruins: Coach Rick Neuheisel is expected to eventually get his alma mater moving again, but this season has been tough, due to a lack of manpower, particularly on offense. If running back Kahlil Bell, who has worked his way back from knee and ankle injuries, can run with consistency, that would be a big help on offense. Bell had 97 yards on the ground at Washington two weeks ago. The defense is sound, with tackles Brigham Harwell and Brian Price (12 sacks) the engine of the unit. Rush end Korey Bosworth, linebacker Reggie Carter and cornerback Alterraun Verner are playmakers. Kai Forbath, like ASU’s Thomas Weber, is one of the top kickers in the nation.

Offense

SE — 82 Taylor Embree

LT — 60 Jeff Baca

LG — 66 Scott Glicksberg

C — 58 Micah Reed

RG — 75 Nick Ekbatani

RT — 65 Mike Harris

TE — 15 Ryan Moya

FL — 4 Terrence Austin

QB — 3 Kevin Craft

TB — 36 Kahlil Bell

FB — 42 Chane Moline

Defense

LE — 96 Datone Jones

DT — 92 Brian Price

DT — 93 Brigham Harwell

RE — 55 Korey Bosworth

WLB — 51 Reggie Carter

MLB — 43 Steve Sloan

SLB — 12 John Hale

LCB — 22 Michael Norris

RCB — 1 Alterraun Verner

FS — 3 Rahim Moore

SS — 25 Bret Lockett

Passing        Att    Com    Pct    Yds    TD    Int

Craft        350    197    56.3    2,048    7    16

Forcier        7    1    14.3    9    1    1

Rushing            Att    Yds    Avg    Lg    TD

Bell            114    334    2.9    24    7

Coleman            49    242    4.9    44    2

Moline            29    118    4.1    40    0

Receiving            No.    Yds    Avg    Lg    TD

Austin            41    395    9.6    29    1

Moya            37    353    9.5    39    3

Embree            35    478    13.7    43    0

D. Johnson            31    337    10.9    24    1

• UCLA offense ranks 108th in nation (116th rush, 64th pass)

 •UCLA defense ranks 51st in nation (96th rush, 43rd pass)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY
Where: Sun Devil Stadium
TV/Announcers: ESPN2/Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman and Rob Stone (sidelines)
Radio: KTAR (92.3 FM)
Records: UCLA 4-6 overall, 3-4 Pac-10;
ASU 4-6, 3-4
Rankings: Both teams unranked
Series: UCLA leads 15-8-1 and is 8-3 in Tempe
Last meeting:  Nov. 10, 2007, at Pasadena, Calif. — ASU 24, UCLA 20
Line: ASU by 10
Tickets: Available at Sun Devil Stadium ticket office, by calling (480) 727-0000 or online at thesundevils.com