The Arizona State football team surprised the college football world with its Big 12 championship game win and berth in the College Football Playoff.
Can Kenny Dillingham’s team keep surprising in the 12-team playoff? The Sun Devils are the No. 4 seed in the postseason college football tournament and receive a bye into the quarterfinals, where they will play either No. 5 Texas or No. 12 Clemson, who face off in the first round.
How far can the ASU football team go in the College Football Playoff? Check out what college football writers are saying in their College Football Playoff picks and predictions.
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Jeremy Cluff predicts a 27-23 win for ASU over Texas, writing: “In DraftKings’ odds for this potential matchup, it has Texas an 11.5-point favorite. Arizona State has had a special season, from being picked last in the Big 12 to winning the Big 12 title and finishing 11-2 overall with a six-game winning streak entering this game. ASU beat four ranked opponents this season, three during its current win streak. It won’t be intimidated by the Longhorns. ASU’s magical season could continue with a thrilling upset.”
He has the Sun Devils losing to No. 1 Oregon in the semifinals, 34-27.
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Four of the 12 have the Sun Devils advancing to the College Football Playoff semifinals to face Oregon in the Cotton Bowl, where all four of them have Kenny Dillingham’s team losing in the tournament.
Their score predictions? 42-31, 38-27, 44-38, 38-27.
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Bill Bender writes: “The Sun Devils get a chance to prove it as the Big 12 champion, and they were as hot as any team in November. Cam Skattebo (1,568 yards, 19 TDs) needs to have success against the Texas’ defensive front, and Arizona State’s pass defense will face a challenge. Ewers will continue the hot hand, and Quentrevion Wisner should have success between the tackles against the Sun Devils.”
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John Buhler predicts a 31-30 ASU win in the quarterfinals. He writes: “Oh, this is going to be fun. No. 4 Arizona State will be waiting for No. 5 Texas in the Peach Bowl. It may be very far away from home for Kenny Dillingham’s Sun Devils, but this is also a house of horrors for Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns after the SEC Championship Game. Unfortunately for Texas, the vaunted Longhorns defense is not going to be able to contain Cam Skattebo or Sam Leavitt at the bitter end.”
ASU is predicted to lose to Oregon in the Cotton Bowl, 37-28.
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Pete Fuitak predicts a 37-17 win for the Longhorns over the Sun Devils, writing: “Texas will roll past Clemson to be here, and it’ll be in for a dog fight against the tough, pounding Arizona State team … for 20 minutes. Texas will show why the ACC wasn’t all that great in the first round win, and then it’ll show what the Big 12 wasn’t all that great in the quarterfinals. Get ready for Big 12 Champion signs being held up across the stadium as the Longhorns clamp down hard on Cam Skattebo after the first quarter.”
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Paul Myerberg writes: “Again, Texas benefits from landing in the No. 5 seed. Arizona State enters the postseason on a six-game winning streak thanks to the backfield pairing of quarterback Sam Leavitt and running back Cam Skattebo. This is a different level of challenge than the Big 12 for the Sun Devils, who will need another herculean effort from the latter to loosen up the Longhorns’ defense and score what would be a significant upset.”
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Nicole Auerbach writes: “I’ve got Texas beating Clemson in the first round but losing to red-hot Arizona State in the quarterfinals. The concerns I have about the Longhorns were apparent in both losses to Georgia, and even though the Sun Devils don’t have as much total talent as the Bulldogs, I think they can completely overwhelm an opponent, like we saw in the Big 12 title game. I’m worried about the limitations of the Texas offense. Can the Longhorns finish drives? Can they run the ball against good defensive fronts? Can Quinn Ewers avoid back-breaking turnovers? I think I know the answers against Clemson. But Arizona State’s run defense ranks ahead of Georgia’s. If the Sun Devils can make Texas one-dimensional … If they can get off the field on third down … If Kenny Dillingham can light a fire under his guys … I think we could see Arizona State extend its magical season. Well, for one more game. I’ve still got Oregon coming out on top when all is said and done. And yes, Dan Lanning, we will certainly be entertained.”
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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