College Football
Previews - NCAA Football Handicapping - Preview 2006 Betting
Arizona St.
Sun Devils 2006 Preview
Online
Predictions By:
Matt Fargo Arizona St. Sun Devils Football
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Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be
here before you know it so that means getting
an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season.
Knowing the teams now will save you time in August
and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp
of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from
worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.
Fargo’s Take
- The Sun Devils have been to three bowl
games in the five years Dirk Koetter has been
head coach but none of them have been very glamorous
and that needs to change. The offense has been
spectacular in all of those years but it’s
been the defense that has held Arizona St. back.
After finishing 48th in total defense in 2004,
the Sun Devils plummeted to 114th last year and
lost three games where the offense put up at least
31 points. With such an explosive offense, losing
four games by at least 10 points is inexcusable.
Immediate help is needed and it looks at though
help may be on the way. Quarterback controversies
occurred at the beginning of fall camp but those
have since disappeared so the Sun Devils have
one goal and that is to become more competitive
in the Pac Ten. If the defense can improve to
somewhere near its 2004 numbers, that goal is
very attainable.
Returning Starters
on Offense – 8 The quarterback situation
was unsettled through the spring and into the
fall but that is no longer the case. Sophomore
Rudy Carpenter has been named the starter and
that prompted senior Sam Keller to leave school
and transfer to Nebraska. Carpenter was amazing
filling in for the injured Keller as he completed
over 68 percent of his passes while throwing 17
touchdowns and just two interceptions. Now the
task at hand is to find a replacement for All-Pac
Ten receiver Derek Hagan. Junior Rudy Burgess
looks like he is up for the challenge after grabbing
59 balls last year. Tight end Zach Miller is one
of the best in the country at his position and
is a preseason All-American. The offensive line
returns pretty much intact while tailback Keegan
Herring rushed for 870 yards as a freshman. Basically,
all systems go.
Returning Starters
on Defense – 5 After allowing just
24 ppg though its first four games, the defense
imploded. It allowed 35 points in the second half
to USC and it was all downhill from there. Easily
the worst defense in the conference, Arizona St.
comes into this season ranked as the fifth best
in the Pac Ten. That is due to a defensive line
that is ranked right behind USC and for good reason.
Three transfers, Loren Howard (Northwestern),
Tranell Morant (Florida) and Michael Marquardt
(BYU) will man the line and the rushing defense
that ranked 89th in the country could be one of
the best. Linebackers are still a concern with
the departure of Dale Robinson and Jamar Williams
but the secondary should improve immensely. Two
starters are back at safety and while the corners
need to be replaced, anything can be better than
last year after finishing 112th in passing defense.
Schedule
- Facing Northern Arizona in the opener should
show us how the defense has come along even though
it is against a 1-AA opponent. The real test comes
the following week at home against Nevada who
will also have one of the best offenses in the
nation. The schedule really stiffens after that
with a trip to Colorado followed by three games
against the other three contenders in the conference
– California, Oregon and USC. Making matters
worse is that the games against the Bears and
Trojans are away from Sun Devils Stadium. After
that four-game stretch, the rest of the slate
will feel like a cakewalk with four wins on deck
followed by the final two games against UCLA and
at improved Arizona.
You can bet on…
If nothing else, Arizona St. games will be entertaining.
The offense is going to score a ton of points
and even though the defense is upgraded, there
are still problems. Koetter hopes he made the
right choice with Carpenter as his quarterback
and if anything should go wrong, there is no help
waiting in the wings. At least Keller will start
next season in Nebraska. Arizona St. is just 4-13
ATS as a road underdog since Koetter took over
back in 2001 and a lot of that failure has to
do with the defense that couldn’t stop anyone.
Whether or not that changes this season remains
to be seen but the Sun Devils will be in that
role in their first three road games of the season.
Arizona St. has covered just six of its last 20
conference road games as well.
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