Sun Bowl: Arizona State and Duke can clinch back-to-back 10-win seasons

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Arizona State (9-3) vs. Duke (9-3)

El Paso, Texas

Dec. 26, 2014

It’s hard to believe there was a point where Arizona State and Duke were contending for division titles with 8-1 records, but both teams unexpectedly lost two of their final three games to hand over their divisional title hopes.

In the case of No. 15 Arizona State, the Sun Devils were poised to possibly play in the College Football Playoff if it could have won out in November and then toppled Oregon.

While the Sun Bowl is a tough consolation prize after being in the running for a shot at the national title, it does give Arizona State a chance at its first back-to-back 10-win seasons since the early 70s and Duke has a chance for back-to-back 10-win seasons for the firs time in program history.

Arizona State’s offense has been clicking all season even without star starting quarterback Taylor Kelly at times. Kelly, who suffered a foot injury during the middle of the year, will start, but backup Mike Bercovici might play as a change-of-pace option. Regardless of who is the quarterback, the main target will be Jaelen Strong, who led the team with 75 catches and had 1,062 yards, his second consecutive 1,000-yard season. This will be Strong’s final game as a Sun Devil, so he’ll likely want to make it a good one.

Duke boasts a similar offensive weapon in receiver Jamison Crowder, who has 78 catches for 942 yards and six touchdowns and also is a threat on special teams. However, Crowder does not have a consistent quarterback who can get him the ball. Anthony Boone was one of the worst passers in the ACC and struggled mightily in the Blue Devils’ two losses down the stretch with three interceptions to two touchdowns.

The difference in this game is going to come down to quarterback play and diversity on offense. Arizona State has it and Duke does not. Even with Duke’s 8-1 start, it did struggle against some lesser teams and will no doubt have a hard time keeping pace with the Sun Devils potent offense.

Vegas odds: Arizona State (-7.5)

FUN FACT

Duke is looking for its first postseason win since defeating Arkansas in the 1961 Cotton Bowl. A win also would give the Blue Devil their first win against a Top 25 team outside of the ACC since beating Stanford in 1971.

PREDICTIONS

Graham:Taylor Kelly hasn’t played especially well since returning from a foot injury, which gives me a little pause in picking the Sun Devils, but not that much. ASU is a much better team than Duke and I think it runs away with this one early and receiver Jaelen Strong goes out with a bang. ASU 45, Duke 17.

Nick: Devil, devil, you keep playing on my mind. Is it better to be a devil of the blue or a devil of the sun? ASU is the better team, but a Duke win shouldn't be surprising. Arizona State 30, Duke 28.

Sam: Arizona State looked like a team that could crack the College Football Playoff before it lost to Oregon State. The Sun Devils are the better team. As long as they limit the turnovers, they should handle Duke. Arizona State 31, Duke 21.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday

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