Arizona State head coach Todd Graham has done a tremendous job this season in light of the fact that the Sun Devils returned just eight starters (fewest in the Pac-12 Conference) and had a quarterback with zero collegiate starts. Through the first four weeks of the 2012-2013 campaign, the Sun Devils have out-gained their opponents by an average of 468 yards at 6.8 yards per play to 277 yards at 4.1 yards per play. Arizona State has also played well on the defensive side of the ball where the Sun Devils have limited three of their first four opponents to under 4.0 yards per play.
Arizona State Offense – (8/30/12 – 9/23/12)
- Arizona State is averaging 41.2 points per game this season, including 4.4 yards per rush attempt, 10.5 yards per pass attempt and 468 total yards (6.8 yards per play) against teams that combine to allow just 3.7 yards per rush play, 7.8 yards per pass play and 5.5 yards per play.
- Overall, the Sun Devils are 0.7 yards per rush attempt, 2.7 yards per pass play and 1.3 yards per play better than average offensively this season.
Arizona State Defense – (8/30/12 – 9/23/12)
- The Sun Devils are allowing a mere 12.7 points per game, including 3.2 yards per rush play, 5.2 yards per pass play, 4.0 yards per play and 21.5 yards per point to teams that combine to average 22.5 points per game, 6.2 yards per pass attempt, 4.6 yards per play and 13.9 yards per point against mediocre defensive squads.
- Overall, Arizona State is 9.8 points per game, 1.0 yards per pass play, 0.6 yards per play and 7.6 yards per point better than average defensively this season.
Arizona State also possesses an elite special teams unit led by kick returner Jamal Miles, who finished #1 in the conference last season with 16.6 yards per punt return, while finishing second with 26.3 yards per kick return. Kicker Alex Garoutte (made 15-of-22 field goal attempts last season) and punter Josh Hubner (averaged 41.3 yards per punt in 2011) complete one of the best special teams units in college football. Coach Graham brings a winning attitude to Tempe, and I expect the Sun Devils to remain undervalued within the betting marketplace in the future.
