Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008

Preview: WSU (1-9, 0-7 Pac-10) at Arizona State (3-6, 2-4)

By Howie Stalwick, Special to the Herald

Today's kickoff: 2:30 p.m., Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.

TV: None.

Breakingdown: WSU: The Cougars don't have a chance unless they shore up the nation's most generous defense (50.2 points allowed per game) and co-most generous offense (33 turnovers, tied with Wyoming). The Cougars also rank last in rushing defense, sacks allowed, tackles for loss allowed, turnovers differential and third-down conversion percentage. WSU has played in adverse weather two straight weeks, so sunny temperatures in the 80's could pose a problem in Tempe.

Arizona State: The explosive ASU offense is getting players healthy just in time to take advantage of the worst defense in the modern era of WSU football. QB Rudy Carpenter is 3-0 against WSU, completing 60 percent of his passes for 1,037 yards and seven touchdowns. The Sun Devils like to use battering-ram running back Shaun DeWitty to soften up defenses for the speedy Keegan Herring Herring. The ASU defense has yielded more than 28 points only once; the WSU defense has yielded less than 28 points only once.