Here are three things to watch in the Territorial Cup tonight between Arizona and Arizona State game at Arizona Stadium (7:30 p.m., ESPN), plus a score prediction and some pertinent preview links:
1. EMOTIONAL EDGE?
We all know the Wildcats haven’t executed to the coaches’ satisfaction. We’ve heard it a million times. (If I hear it one more time, I might execute myself.) As Rich Rodriguez said, playing hard isn’t enough; you have to play hard and well. But there’s also something to be said for playing with emotion. I fully expect to see an extremely amped-up UA squad tonight. It’s Senior Night, and one of the honorees will be the late Zach Hemmila. If that doesn’t light a fire under the Wildcats, I don’t know what would. The players said before and after the Oregon State game that they were locked in, but there’s no comparison between that atmosphere and what Arizona Stadium will be like tonight. The question is whether that extra jolt of energy – combined with crisper play – will be enough to propel Arizona to victory. I’m skeptical because I’ve thought the Wildcats would snap out of this funk before and it hasn’t happened.
2. QUARTERBACKS, PART 12
I don’t know the exact extent of Anu Solomon’s latest injury. But with Solomon questionable to play because of a foot ailment, I expect Brandon Dawkins to run the show from start to finish. Which makes for a fascinating matchup. ASU sells out to stop the run, leaving the back of its defense vulnerable. Not only are the Sun Devils last in the nation in pass defense, they allow 48 more yards per game than No. 127 Pittsburgh. Dawkins is not the type to stand in the pocket, scan the field and locate second and third options running through the secondary. He’s much more apt to take off if option No. 1 isn’t open. Will that work against ASU? Dawkins did compile 383 yards of offense in about three quarters of work against the Sun Devils last season, so that’s promising. Plus, he has played a full season’s worth of games since then, so he should be a better quarterback. Whether it’s with his arm or his feet, Dawkins has to make plays for Arizona to win this game.
3. THE TURNOVER TALE
Neither team has been particularly proficient on offense. I expect a relatively low-scoring, ugly game – the type of game that could be decided by turnovers. Last year’s 52-37 ASU victory featured three pick-sixes. Cam Denson – who’s now a wide receiver – got the first one, which supplied Arizona’s first points of the game. After helping the Wildcats trim a 31-10 halftime deficit to 38-30 midway through the fourth quarter, Dawkins threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. Unsurprisingly, both teams have struggled in the turnover department this season. Arizona’s 20 giveaways are the second most in the Pac-12; ASU’s 19 are third most. The Sun Devils have a minus-3 turnover margin; the Wildcats are minus-8 (worst in the league). Odds are, the team that wins the turnover battle will win the game. In something of an encouraging sign, Arizona has had as many giveaways as takeaways each of the past two weeks. In the Wildcats’ previous six conference games, they were minus-14.
FINAL SCORE: Arizona State 23, Arizona 20
PREVIEW LINKS:
No matter the stakes, Territorial Cup still matters for Arizona, ASU
Greg Hansen: Hatred fuels Territorial Cup, even when both 'Err-izona' teams are bad
