Arizona State Sun Devils (4-2) vs. Stanford Cardinal (4-3)
Saturday, October 24, 7:25 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Stanford -6.5

Sam’s Take (31 – 14):

This game will not be for the faint of heart. Get your helmet strapped on tight, because there is going to be a lot of hitting. These two teams couldn’t have experienced more different emotions last week, as the Cardinal lost in devastating fashion and the Sun Devils won on one of the craziest plays of the year.

The story of this Saturday’s game on the Farm will be the battle between the ultra-physical Stanford offense and the ultra-physical ASU defense. I am particularly excited to witness what I am calling the “Battle of #7’s”, as RB Toby Gerhart and LB Vontaze Burfict will surely meet on multiple occasions.

As I see it, the team that gets better play at QB will win this game. While ASU’s Danny Sullivan has looked much improved lately, I am putting my money on Stanford’s Andrew Luck. Luck was incredible against Arizona (save that opening pick six), and he barely resembles a freshman at this point. Cardinal receivers are also starting to step up in a big way, as both Ryan Whalen and Chris Owusu have developed into all-conference caliber players.

Danny Sullivan is playing with great confidence right now, but this is the week that he must prove he can play well on the road. In his last away game against Wazzu, Sullivan was absolutely terrible, so it should be interesting to see how he performs this week. I expect Dennis Erickson to call some high percentage screens and quick outs at the beginning of the game so that Sullivan can establish some rhythm.

Ultimately, I expect a very tightly contested game that is played in the low to mid-20’s. The ASU defense will probably be strong throughout, but I think a couple of key Toby Gerhart runs mixed in with a big play from Luck to Owusu may be the difference.

Prediction: Stanford 24 – Arizona State 23

Arizona State Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Jamal Miles - Miles made his debut last week against Washington, showing great speed and explosion which is what the offense could use more of.

Stanford Player to Keep an Eye On: TE Jim Dray - Jim Harbaugh loves to use multiple tight ends in the running and passing game, and Dray is arguably the most complete TE on the team.

Dave’s Take (35 – 10):

It’s really difficult to get a grasp on Stanford at this point. There isn’t much doubt that the offense is clicking; Andrew Luck is a star in the making, as are his main wideouts  Chris Owusu and Ryan Whalen; and Toby Gerhart is one of the premier rushers in the country. Stanford’s 429.9 yards per game ranks 23rd in the nation.

The defense, however, has been a major disappointment. The Cardinal have given up 38+ points in two straight games (38 against Oregon State and 43 against Arizona). Yes, these are two high power offenses; but the performances have been inexcusably bad all the same. How will they fare back at home against the Sun Devils?

For the second straight week, Arizona State will have strength against strength when their defense takes the field, and weakness against weakness when their offense takes the field. Ironically enough, it was the offense that came up with the huge play to win the game against Washington; but all due respect to Danny Sullivan and Chris McGaha, that was thanks in large part to a major defensive collapse.

Arizona State hasn’t failed to score 17 points in a game this season, and they shouldn’t fail to do so in this one either. If ASU gets the 17-24 points I expect them to, it would mean that Stanford would have to get into the mid-to-high 20s in scoring. Will they be able to do so against this stingy ASU defense?

My head says yes, but for some reason, my gut says no. It will take a hell of an effort all around, but I think the Sun Devils have it in them; and I think they get away with the upset.

Prediction: Arizona State 23 – Stanford 17

The top two receivers from last year’s team are back, and head coach Jim Harbaugh’s excellent recruiting class from 2008 gives Stanford a much-needed influx of talent at the position.

Last season’s leading receiver is junior Ryan Whalen. The reliable Whalen had 41 receptions for 508 yards last year, which were both team highs by a mile. The Alamo (CA) native only found the end zone one time, but came up with critical grabs throughout the season. He appeared in all 12 games last year, making seven starts. The 6-2 205 pound Whalen is a former walk-on that only had one career reception before exploding onto the scene in 2008.

Now on scholarship, Whalen is a sure-handed receiver that has steadily improved since arriving on campus in Palo Alto in 2007. He doesn’t possess great speed, but he’s a smooth route-runner and can create space very effectively.

Ryan Whalen goes up for the grab

He had a productive spring, leading the White team in receiving yards during the spring game. Whalen caught four passes for 78 yards from Andrew Luck in a winning cause against the Cardinal team. The steady junior should continue to build on the early chemistry he has established with Luck.

Junior Doug Baldwin is Stanford’s best returning playmaker. The 5-11 189 pound wideout is the field-stretcher of the unit. His big-play ability is used in a variety of ways. Last season, Baldwin finished with 23 receptions for 332 yards and a team-high four receiving touchdowns. He also had 81 rushing yards and a rushing TD.

On top of being a dynamic receiver, Baldwin is an excellent return man. He has averaged over 24 yards per kick return and 8.5 yards per punt return during his career. The Gulf Breeze (FL) native played in all 12 games last year, starting nine of them. Like Whalen, Baldwin also enjoyed a nice spring game. He enters 2009 as a key component of the passing attack.

The Stanford coaching staff is very high on sophomore Chris Owusu. After the surprising decision by Harbaugh and Co. to move former starting WR Richard Sherman to the defensive secondary, Owusu will see increased playing time.

The speedy wideout from Westlake Village (CA) missed the first half of last season with a torn MCL but rebounded nicely in the second half of the season. Owusu finished his freshman season with 5 catches for 80 yards. Rivals.com gave Owusu 4-stars and ranked him as one of the best 250 players in the 2008 recruiting class. His combination of size and speed should give the Cardinal an added element in the passing game.

The major backup for Ryan Whalen looks to be sophomore Warren Reuland. At 6-5 210 pounds, Reuland only caught three passes for 29 yards, but he is a promising athlete with good hands and leaping ability. He could factor into Stanford’s offense in red-zone situations. The Mission Viejo (CA) native played in nine games as a true freshman last season.

The 2008 recruiting class features two potential game breakers for the Cardinal receiving corp in 2009.

True Freshmen Jemari Roberts and Jamal-Rashad Patterson were two of Jim Harbaugh’s prize recruits last year. They are both tremendous talents that could see the field in week one.

Long Beach (CA) native Jemari Roberts fielded offers from numerous Pac-10 programs, but elected to help build the ‘Furd into something special. The 6-3 205 pound wideout has great speed to go along with his size, and could be a return man for the Cardinal as well. He was given 4-stars by Rivals.com and ranked as the 18th best receiver in the 2009 class. At Wilson High School (CA), Roberts totaled 2,700 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns in his career.

Jemari Roberts made it official on signing day

Patterson arrives on the Farm from McDonough, Georgia. Harbaugh has praised the 6-3 201 pound receiver for his tremendous potential. Like Roberts, Rivals.com gave Patterson a 4-star rating and ranked him the 28th best receiving prospect in the class. During his four-year career at Henry County High School (GA), Patterson accumulated 3,100 yards and 41 touchdowns. He was also a track star in high school, setting school records in the 300m hurdles, 4×100m relay, and 4×400m relay.

Tight Ends

Senior Jim Dray is atop the depth chart at tight end. The Paramus (NJ) native has made a full recovery from a serious knee injury suffered in the 2007 season that required two surgeries. Dray played in eight games last season and although he only caught two passes for 12 yards, both were touchdown receptions.

For his career, the 6-5 255 pound veteran has 30 receptions for 306 yards and four TDs. Through great determination, Dray has proven that he can fight adversity and will now look to end his career on a high note. He is a balanced tight end, with great blocking and receiving skills.

Right behind Dray is junior Coby Fleener. The 6-6 248 pound hybrid is agile enough to be a wideout, but has the size of a tight end. He can stretch the field with great speed, which he demonstrated in the spring game when he hauled in a 32-yard touchdown from Andrew Luck.

Last season, Fleener finished with 13 receptions for 176 yards (3rd most receiving yards on team). The Lemont (IL) product could have an increased role in the passing game this season. His size and athleticism could be of great use in red-zone situations.

Junior Konrad Reuland will be joining his brother Warren on the Cardinal this season. The 6-6 257 pound tight end is a transfer from Notre Dame, and will be playing his first season with Stanford in 2009. He was one of the premier tight end prospects in the 2006 recruiting class when he left Mission Viejo High School (CA). Rivals.com gave him a 4-star rating and he was a Parade All-American. Reuland should split time with Dray and Fleener.

Other receivers and tight ends competing for time are: junior Marcus Rance, and freshmen Drew Terrell, Levine Toilolo, Ryan Hewitt, and Zach Ertz.

My Take

This unit had a fantastic spring and enters 2009 with confidence. Still, with so many young players being counted on, it’s difficult to know how much improvement will be made from last season. I do believe Stanford will be much better than 103rd in passing, but this should continue to be a run-dominated offense. I expect Whalen and Baldwin to be steady but not spectacular. Owusu may be the key for the passing game this season, and he must establish a deep-threat presence for the Cardinal.

Harbaugh has done a great job bringing in blue-chippers at receiver and tight end, and the offense will one day be a very balanced attack. I think both Roberts and Patterson are future stars, and it will be interesting to see how soon they hit the field.

Toby Gerhart will lead the charge for Stanford this year, but Andrew Luck and his talented cast of young receivers will be fun to watch in the future.