That's what sports columnist (Michael Lev) for the Daily Star does in his rivalry column today as he explores the areas where AU and ASU have switched roles this football season...
As we all know, the Cats were picked 5th in the Big-12 preseason poll following a 10 win season, while the Devils were picked dead last following a 3-9 season last year...
The Cats were expecting a run at the conference championship while nobody was expecting much out of our Devils, while most fans were hoping for enough wins to make a bowl game...
So, fast forward and look how things have turned out this season as the Devils are 9-2 in title contention, while the Cats are 4-7 and won't be going to a bowl after the season...
The Devils are rushing the ball significantly better than they did last season behind an OL that has had a lot of continuity while the Cats, due to injuries, have not and their best OL - Jonah Savaiinaea - may miss the game tomorrow since he injured his leg against TCU last weekend...
The Devils also have a very good RB in Cam Skattebo while the Cats don't have anyone that comes close to matching his production this season...
In terms of the QB position, Sam Leavitt, has flourished at ASU after transferring from Mich St while the Cats returning QB, Noah Fifita, has not this season, for the most part...
Leavitt has an 18-5 TD to INT ratio, while Fifita has gone from a 25-6 ratio last season to a 17-12 ratio this season, so far...
And, the Devils have the best TO margin in the Big-12 while the Cats have struggled in the TO game this season...
But, the Cats still have an AA WR in TMac who catches everything in sight, passes that are thrown his way, against a Devils secondary that has been exploited on a regular basis this season...
The Cats will be focused on stopping Skattebo and eliminating turn-overs while the Devils will have to figure out ways to put more pressure on Fifita and not let him find TMac in the open on too many occasions...
There are good reasons that ASU is favored in this game but, as we all know, you can throw all of that out of the window in this game...
Go Devils and Beat the Cats!!!
As we all know, the Cats were picked 5th in the Big-12 preseason poll following a 10 win season, while the Devils were picked dead last following a 3-9 season last year...
The Cats were expecting a run at the conference championship while nobody was expecting much out of our Devils, while most fans were hoping for enough wins to make a bowl game...
So, fast forward and look how things have turned out this season as the Devils are 9-2 in title contention, while the Cats are 4-7 and won't be going to a bowl after the season...
The Devils are rushing the ball significantly better than they did last season behind an OL that has had a lot of continuity while the Cats, due to injuries, have not and their best OL - Jonah Savaiinaea - may miss the game tomorrow since he injured his leg against TCU last weekend...
The Devils also have a very good RB in Cam Skattebo while the Cats don't have anyone that comes close to matching his production this season...
In terms of the QB position, Sam Leavitt, has flourished at ASU after transferring from Mich St while the Cats returning QB, Noah Fifita, has not this season, for the most part...
Leavitt has an 18-5 TD to INT ratio, while Fifita has gone from a 25-6 ratio last season to a 17-12 ratio this season, so far...
And, the Devils have the best TO margin in the Big-12 while the Cats have struggled in the TO game this season...
But, the Cats still have an AA WR in TMac who catches everything in sight, passes that are thrown his way, against a Devils secondary that has been exploited on a regular basis this season...
The Cats will be focused on stopping Skattebo and eliminating turn-overs while the Devils will have to figure out ways to put more pressure on Fifita and not let him find TMac in the open on too many occasions...
There are good reasons that ASU is favored in this game but, as we all know, you can throw all of that out of the window in this game...
Go Devils and Beat the Cats!!!
