ASU vs. Arizona score predictions

Will the Wildcats bring the Territorial Cup back to Tucson?

The Arizona Wildcats will battle the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MST, looking to bring the Territorial Cup back to Tucson.

ASU enters as the slight favorite with the over/under set at 65. Here is how we think the game will unfold. Be sure to leave your score predictions in the comment section below.

Brian J. Pedersen — Arizona wins 37-31

It all comes down to this: do the Wildcats want to keep playing—that Cheez-It Bowl swag, tho—or have this massively disappointing season come to a merciful end? If the final game weren’t against Arizona State I’d think the latter was possible, but instead I am expecting a very inspired game.

But that’s also going to be one where Arizona once again falls behind early and has to play catch up. In most situations that wouldn’t be preferable, but when the Wildcats have needed to rally at home this season they’ve been far more successful. A sizable crowd full of fans excited about seeing their team play without artificial lighting will provide that extra boost needed to bring home the Territorial Cup.

Christopher Boan — Arizona State wins 42-35

It’s going to be brutally difficult for the Wildcats to slow down N’Keal Harry and Eno Benjamin, with the Wildcats defense struggling mightily to stop, well, anybody. This one will be a punch-drunk, Big XII style ballgame, with the Sun Devils getting the edge thanks to their aforementioned talent at skill positions. I won’t be surprised if Arizona wins this one, but I’m going to side with Uncle Herm and the family band nonetheless.

Gabe Encinas — Arizona wins 44-38

Arizona got humiliated in Pullman just a few days ago after playing their best ball of the season and coming off a bye.

Now you have bowl eligibility on the line and for ASU I have to think you’re not entirely motivated after missing out on the Pac-12 South.

ASU is so interesting. They beat Michigan State, they hung with Washington and Stanford but lost to Colorado and barely beat USC and UCLA when those two teams were at their worst.

They’ve somehow pulled off six wins when everyone picked them to be last in the division. Sure, Benjamin and Harry can be a problem, and given Arizona’s performance last week it’s scary, but ASU’s defense is hurting right now too with a bunch of freshmen in the secondary.

At home, I’m still going to take Arizona but this is going to be a sloppy game with several lead changes and turnovers.

Zant Reyez — Arizona wins 40-35

Who knows which UA team is going to show up on Saturday. I feel like I’ve typed that so many times this season.

For reasons I can’t explain, I think Arizona comes out like it did against Oregon and keeps the game fun from start to finish. I just don’t think they want to end the season with a Washington State, Utah, type loss.

I think Khalil Tate has a throwback game to the October 2017 Tate and erases the ASU game he had last year from our minds.

Brandon Combs — Arizona wins 49-28

Arizona isn’t happy about the way their trip to the Palouse ended. Couple that with ASU coming to town and bowl eligibility on the line, and you have a ton of motivation for this team.

ASU has a ton of freshmen on defense and, really, not many weapons on offense. That means a pretty favorable matchup. Khalil Tate has been playing his best ball all year. J.J. Taylor is still a very dangerous weapon and the receivers have hit their stride. Defensively, the ‘Cats will need to bounce back and I think that happens. Besides, Wazzu is a very good team and ASU isn’t. So I don’t expect anywhere near the same result.

Arizona brings home the Cup and makes it to bowl eligibility. I wouldn’t mind the Vegas Bowl.

Ryan Kelapire — Arizona wins 35-31

I think ASU is the better team and I’m not sure how Arizona’s defense will stop N’Keal Harry and Eno Benjamin, but the Territorial Cup never makes sense anyway, so I think the Wildcats find a way to get it done.

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