NCAAF Friday Night preview: Arizona State vs. Cal & 3 more

Friday night’s featured Pac-12 cross-division matchup is a good, old-fashioned rock fight. The Sun Devils stroll into Berkeley giving up a mere 13.8 points per game. The Bears are only surrendering 17.3, so points should be at a premium. These two teams have not met in the last two years and Cal leads the all-time series 17-16. Can Arizona State even things up and get back into the conference race?

Herm Edwards is one of many head coaches who decided to start a true-freshman quarterback this year. Jayden Daniels has not disappointed, but he would do well to stay in the pocket a bit longer, as he has 36 rushes versus 116 pass attempts.

Arizona State’s bell-cow back is Eno Benjamin, but he has yet to exceed 4.7 yards per in any game this season, and senior wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been the most reliable offensive weapon.

The Bears are led by their stalwart senior linebacker Evan Weaver, who has 63 tackles in four games (the national leader by 16!). Weaver will quickly introduce himself to Daniels and Benjamin and will be an unwelcome companion for both the whole night. Another thing to like about this California defense is its ability to cover the pass. Eight players have already broken up two passes or more this season. Senior safety Ashtyn Davis has also managed to force two fumbles.

In its one road test this season, Arizona State stunned Michigan State, 10-7. That is the game that most approximates the caliber of team the Sun Devils will be facing Friday. However, if you look at that game more closely, Arizona State was somewhat dominated (the Sun Devils had fewer first downs, 23-14, and were outgained 404-216). Both offensive lines will struggle in this game, but I see a difference—Daniels will not be able to consistently beat the Bears’ secondary in passing situations. Cal will remain the Pac-12’s lone undefeated team and head into a huge showdown at Oregon next week for conference supremacy.

Pick: California -4

Duke at Virginia Tech (-2.5), 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

Can anyone give me a reason to bet on Virginia Tech at this point? The Hokies finished 6-7 last year and have had about as bad a run of two offseasons as a program can imagine, with injuries and transfers galore. They also opened 2019 with a loss at Boston College (where Kansas won) and squeaked by Old Dominion and Furman at home. And you want me to give points to David Cutcliffe? No thanks.

Pick: Duke +2.5

San Jose State at Air Force (-19), 8 p.m. ET, CBSSN

This is an obvious momentum pivot game. The Falcons just suffered a tough conference loss at Boise State, while the Spartans just won at Arkansas. People should feel good about what Brent Brennan is building in San Jose, but the last time he faced an option offense he lost to Army 52-3.

Pick: Air Force (-19)

#12 Penn State (-6) at Maryland, 8 p.m. ET, FS1

This will represent Penn State’s stiffest challenge in stopping the run. If the Nittany Lions can do that, they’ll be well on their way to 4-0 and ready to take on the rest of the Big Ten East elite. It’s always scary to bet against the Terps, with their plethora of talented backs, but I just can’t get over that loss at Temple. If the Owls could slow down Maryland’s ground game, wouldn’t Penn State have enough talented defenders to copy the script?

Pick: Penn State (-6)

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