Key numbers behind Arizona State’s 2-2 start — Kevin Zimmerman ESPN

Co-Managing Editor Greg Burcham was kind enough to answer our questions.

In last week’s matchup, UCLA easily got past Arizona 56-30. What is the prevailing storyline at UCLA through four weeks? Josh Rosen had a great game as well, adding 284 yards and two TDs through the air.

Sophomore linebacker Kenny Young was still steamed this week about the defense giving up 353 rushing yards. Those fans paid to come to the game, but Ballage is not going to see any of that money.

SP: You discussed Arizona’s top performers earlier, but who do you think could be an X-factor or an underrated performer that ASU should watch for? The true freshman class has already shown its versatility, as the nation’s No. 1 offensive guard – Fred Ulu-Perry – has flipped over to help out along the defensive line.

The Titans had a good run last season but fell short in reaching the ACHA regionals past year. At that point, people left their seats in droves, hoping to escape traffic and get home in time to catch a better game. Check out the Arizona State vs. UCLA prediction and game preview. The 3-3-5 doesn’t hold up that well to power rushing attacks anyway, and with the injuries to Arizona’s linebackers this season, I’m not confident in Arizona’s ability to stop Stanford’s rushing attack. The biggest weakness now is a loss of depth at a few key positions in that group.

Winning really does solve everything in college football. Hundley led the team on that scoring drive after UCLA took over with 1:33 to play following a Sun Devil touchdown which had made the score 43-42.

As long as the Trojan defense continues to play well, Wilcox will be in the clear.

It is not 26, as in the margin of victory in the Bruins’ throttling of Arizona to open Pac-12 play.

Neither linebacker Jayon Brown nor reserve running back Bolu Olorunfunmi practiced Tuesday.

The road team has won each of the last three games and five of the eight games in that current stretch.

BR: Bruins fans recognize they are a very unsafe team, and even more so now.

My take: They might not get enough respect, but the Bruins are fielding one of their strongest teams in recent memory this fall. “We’ve had discussions with them after that acquisition took place and ultimately our board rejected their proposal”. Our defense, particularly the linebacking crew, looked shaky against the run last week, and DC Tom Bradley is a PennState/east coast guy who didn’t see as much spread and read option as we get out here in the Pac-12, and that, along with the holes on defense worries me against a potent Sun Devil offense with great skill players.

SP: With the start of an NCAA program also comes the ushering in of DI recruits for ASU. I thought he competed well. “We won, but I’m not very happy at all”. We’ll find out tonight if the Bruins are ready for the challenge. Will it be at the same time as another Pac-12 game I need to watch?

Nevertheless, fans are always optimistic about their team, and the seats were mostly full for the Pac-12 opener, until late in the second quarter after the aforementioned touchdowns.

There’s been little connection between quarterback Mike Bercovici and his receivers, which is something that needs to change in order for the Sun Devils to succeed in Pac-12 play. The 2014-15 Bruins posted a 3.03 team GPA to receive the distinction. If the Bruins come out flat like they did somewhat against BYU, it could be trouble. The Sun Devils passing game is ranked just 38th, compared to the 22nd-ranked pass defense of the Bruins.

That sickness Mora felt about his rush defense will be a recurring theme as the Bruins prepare to play visiting Arizona State (2-2, 0-1) this Saturday at the Rose Bowl.