Game Day — Do the Sun Devils Even Have a Prayer?

No. 5 USC at Arizona State: Can the Sun Devils avoid a massive beatdown?

What’s at stake, the key matchup to watch, and what would need to happen for ASU to win Saturday night

Mario Williams stiff-arms ASU DB Jordan Clark during the first half of last year’s game at the Coliseum. The Trojans and the injury-plagued Sun Devils wind down their rivalry Saturday night in Tempe. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

No. 5 USC (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12) at ARIZONA STATE (1-2 overall, 0-0)

7:30 p.m. PT Saturday; Mountain America Stadium, Tempe, Ariz., FOX (11)/790 AM; Line: USC by 35 points

Luca Evans (OC Register —  Notable injuries:

Arizona State: PROBABLE: QB Drew Pyne (undisclosed); QUESTIONABLE: OL Cade Briggs (undisclosed); DOUBTFUL: QB Trenton Bourguet (leg); DE Clayton Smith (undisclosed); OUT: QB Jaden Rashada (undisclosed);

USC: OUT: DL Solomon Tuliaupupu (lower leg, season-ending surgery); OL Gino Quinones (lower leg, out for season)

What’s at stake? This matchup is so blatantly lopsided on paper, so truly skewed in light of ASU’s injury-ravaged depth chart and lesser talent, that new Sun Devils head coach and ASU grad Kenny Dillingham maniacally barked out an all-time vein-popper of a rant on Wednesday:

Keep an eye on the success of the Trojans’ inside linebacker and pass rush combinations; this Saturday will serve as a proving ground for who will earn snaps when USC travels to Boulder to face sudden Heisman candidate Shedeur Sanders and Colorado next weekend.

Dillingham told reporters Monday that he would physically show his team the point spread on Saturday. It’s that tilted toward USC here. If ASU were healthy, this would be a little closer – but the Sun Devils are down multiple quarterbacks, offensive linemen, and skill players galore as an injury bug has swept through Tempe.

Matchup to watch: The battle in the trenches. ASU’s offensive line is hurting; no less than five offensive linemen were out at one point before last week’s shutout loss to Fresno State, according to 12News. Briggs is questionable, and the status of starting tackle Isaia Glass seems up in the air.

USC’s Solomon Byrd, Bear Alexander (90) and Jamil Muhammad have all been major difference-makers on the much-improved Trojan defensive line – they seem primed for a monster game hunting down Pyne or Conover.

USC wins if: Former BYU QB and longtime backup Conover doesn’t magically turn into the second coming of Brock Purdy.

Prediction: USC 56, Arizona State 10

Expect USC’s ground game to run buck-wild, and anything less than two to three takeaways would also be a surprise.

_______________

TrojanDailyBlog members  —  We always encourage you to add factual information, insight, divergent opinions, or new topics to the TDB that don’t necessarily pertain to any particular moderator post or member comment.

 

 

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John Weld
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John Weld
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September 23, 2023 11:36 pm

At the end of Week 4 we have Troy5543 in first place with 20,500 and Bus83, Chris, and IllinoisUSC tied for 2nd with 20,000

I want to say good bye to RialtoTrojan and thanks for playing along!

Click on this link to see the Week 4 Detailed Contest Accounting

https://trojandailyblog.com/tdb-football-contest-week-4-2023/

HOF19
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HOF19
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September 23, 2023 11:24 pm

I personally love this video ( About media over-hyping teams ) >>>>> Nick Saban tells media they’re feeding his team “rat poison” Part of what Saban says is “You’re not gonna beat everybody 66-3” ……….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRNqDbd2rdE

HOF19
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HOF19
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September 23, 2023 11:19 pm

And LA Media ……Tone down the USC Hype ……NOW !!!!!!!!!!

Chris
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Chris
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September 23, 2023 11:17 pm

Crumby wins are better than fantastic losses, but not fun. Glad this one is behind us. See you all later. Hope you all have a great rest of your weekend.

Trojan96
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Trojan96
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September 23, 2023 11:17 pm

If they keep playing like this, we’ll be lucky to go 9-3. We were 34 point favorites. Just let that sink in for a moment.

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 23, 2023 11:20 pm
Reply to  Trojan96

They will play well next week and rest of season … count on it

ATL D.D.S.
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ATL D.D.S.
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September 24, 2023 7:51 am
Reply to  USC1988

I hope you are right. If the offense doesn’t play close to perfect, Alex Grinch leaves the team vulnerable

HOF19
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HOF19
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September 23, 2023 11:17 pm

Does LR have any Vince Lombardi in him ? …..I HOPE SO …..REALLY !

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
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September 23, 2023 11:15 pm

LR just whispered something to the ASU Head Coach …….Something like maybe ” You played as good as we did” ?

TrojanMPA90
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September 23, 2023 11:14 pm

Not pretty but you take the W. Good thing is we have a lot of things to work on next week at practice.

USC1988
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September 23, 2023 11:18 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

they needed this .. big improvement coming
CW went bonkers after his poor performance at Oregon St last year

ATL D.D.S.
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ATL D.D.S.
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September 23, 2023 11:20 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

10 am kickoff. Just like Pop Warner youth football games. Sheesh!

RialtoTrojan
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September 23, 2023 11:13 pm

Well good night Irene

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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September 23, 2023 11:12 pm

Better come out ready to play next week

USC1988
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September 23, 2023 11:14 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

They will … count on it

HOF19
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HOF19
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September 23, 2023 11:12 pm

Should they now rate Oregon over USC ?

USC1988
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September 23, 2023 11:16 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Just win … good times when u are very disappointed with 14 pt win in Tempe

USC1988
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September 23, 2023 11:28 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Way too over confident .. very slow start
some same bad habits on D CW missed some throws O looked a tad predictable
But saw some things
pressure on QB
Rice clutch
Run game tough ( please run on 2nd and 3 just once )
kicker was clutch
CW is tough to beat and always will be

alfa1
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September 24, 2023 3:57 am
Reply to  HOF19

I think tOSU will bump USC back to #6

USC1988
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September 23, 2023 11:10 pm

If we give up 1 more F ing 4th down play

HOF19
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HOF19
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September 23, 2023 11:09 pm

4TH and 17 ..Can not give this up !

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
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September 23, 2023 11:06 pm

Make 3 good plays in a row D !

RialtoTrojan
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September 23, 2023 11:05 pm

Usual call by the refs two guys caught the ball one acted like he was in the right.

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 23, 2023 11:05 pm

I keep trying to understand why Riley keeps taking the ball out of Lloyds hands. He only has 151 yds so far rushing.

TrojanMPA90
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September 23, 2023 11:04 pm

This is one of those weird nights.

HOF19
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HOF19
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September 23, 2023 11:03 pm

They might just rule that a catch and no fumble

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
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September 23, 2023 11:02 pm

Wait for the replay.

HOF19
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HOF19
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September 23, 2023 10:59 pm

Good thing there is no mike near ASU coach there .

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 23, 2023 10:58 pm

I have seen better defenses all day today with lesser athletes than what USC has. It isn’t the personel, it is the DC, plain and simple.

USC1988
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September 23, 2023 11:11 pm
Reply to  Steveg

Good news … can pressure the qb some

HOF19
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HOF19
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September 23, 2023 10:57 pm

My all-time “shoulda wrapped up ” (but did not ) play I ever saw was the play in Saints vs Vikings where Saints DB whiffs on the tackle and Stefon Diggs runs into end zone and wins the game .

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
September 23, 2023 10:59 pm
Reply to  HOF19

The Minneapolis Miracle!

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 23, 2023 10:57 pm

1 stop !

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 23, 2023 10:57 pm

That was a dart

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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September 23, 2023 10:57 pm

This has been inexcusable. Coming in unprepared for any team is not USC

TrojanMPA90
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September 23, 2023 10:57 pm

TD Tahj!

USC1988
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USC1988
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September 23, 2023 10:56 pm

There’s Tahj

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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September 23, 2023 10:51 pm

Tarmac Grinch. There’s no excuse for this sloppy playing. ASU couldn’t put a point up against Fresno state. This is Helton Tackling and nothing defense.

TrojanMPA90
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September 23, 2023 10:54 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

Riley isn’t going to do that to him.

TrojanMPA90
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TrojanMPA90
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September 23, 2023 10:50 pm

They should have kept the players practicing last week during the bye week.

HOF19
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HOF19
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September 23, 2023 10:50 pm

“WRAP UP” ….. “WRAP UP” ….. “WRAP UP” ….. My coaches SCREAMED IT all thru practices .

John Weld
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John Weld
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September 23, 2023 10:50 pm

Senior Gentry tries to take the legs out and it does not work so Senior Max Williams tries to do the same thing and it does not work. I do not blame Grinch for two Seniors playing soft.

Trojan96
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September 23, 2023 10:52 pm
Reply to  John Weld

I do. Grinch is the idiot who put them on the field.

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 23, 2023 10:50 pm

Prepare to drop seriously in those sacred polls. This team needs to learn a lot.

Trojan96
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Trojan96
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September 23, 2023 10:50 pm
Reply to  Steveg

My guess is 10th.

UtahTrojan
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UtahTrojan
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September 23, 2023 11:21 pm
Reply to  Trojan96

Maybe if they do they will learn you have to earn it on the field.

USC1988
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September 23, 2023 10:54 pm
Reply to  Steveg

Win game 1st then get better

UtahTrojan
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UtahTrojan
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September 23, 2023 10:50 pm

Finally felt good after our last score. Not so much now.

USC1988
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September 23, 2023 10:52 pm
Reply to  UtahTrojan

Just like last year always the quick scores

Trojan96
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Trojan96
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September 23, 2023 10:49 pm

Fire Grinch!!!!! This defense Sucks!!!

HOF19
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HOF19
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September 23, 2023 10:48 pm

My high school coaches would have benched me for the style Max Williams used in that tackle attempt …..SMH !!!!!

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
September 23, 2023 10:48 pm

#4 got humiliated by #4.

Trojan96
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Trojan96
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September 23, 2023 10:48 pm

Pathetic tackling. SC hasn’t been able to wrap up for over a decade.

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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September 23, 2023 10:48 pm

Thanks no ability to tackle coach. Since when is diving on your belly in front of the runner a tackle move????

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 23, 2023 10:48 pm

Not the first tackle I have seen Max Williams miss.

TrojanMPA90
Noble Genius
TrojanMPA90
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September 23, 2023 10:47 pm

What the hell was that!

USC1988
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USC1988
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September 23, 2023 10:47 pm

Jesus Christ … Grinch special again

Chris
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Chris
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September 23, 2023 10:48 pm
Reply to  USC1988

Grinch isn’t it, but he didn’t get run over.

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 23, 2023 10:51 pm
Reply to  Chris

No but his D gave up another quick TD to put us in position to lose this mess
And horrible coverage and no ability to stop 4th down plays
tackling

John Weld
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Major Genius
John Weld
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September 23, 2023 10:53 pm
Reply to  Chris

Sorry Chris, I hit the wrong button. Can somebody hit the up button to cancel my mistake.

UtahTrojan
Noble Genius
UtahTrojan
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September 23, 2023 10:47 pm

Are you kidding me.

USC1988
Noble Genius
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September 23, 2023 10:48 pm
Reply to  UtahTrojan

Almost count on it … can never put a game away
well come on O

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 23, 2023 10:46 pm

great tackling by USC again.

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
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September 23, 2023 10:46 pm

The D read that 3rd down play …..Nice.

RialtoTrojan
Noble Genius
RialtoTrojan
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September 23, 2023 10:45 pm

Carp ref why don’t you call both sides equal?

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 23, 2023 10:44 pm

Cheap call

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
September 23, 2023 10:43 pm

Caleb’s stats look better than he’s played.

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
September 23, 2023 10:44 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Agree. Wouldn’t trade him for any other QB in CF.

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 23, 2023 10:43 pm

underrated catch by Rice

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
September 23, 2023 10:44 pm
Reply to  USC1988

Rice is consistently our best receiver.

USC1988
Noble Genius
USC1988
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September 23, 2023 10:45 pm

No Tjah tonight

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 23, 2023 10:42 pm

Maybe tonights performance is something they need to get out of their system.

RialtoTrojan
Noble Genius
RialtoTrojan
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September 23, 2023 10:41 pm

We ‘re going to beat the spread …not. Maybe next season I’ll bet over and under

USC1988
Noble Genius
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September 23, 2023 10:42 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

Let’s just win the game