Pacific Takes - 2016 Pac-12 preview countdown - #7 Arizona State: Sun Devils maintain status quoWhere The West Coast Is The Best Coasthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52598/pt_fav.png2016-08-11T08:01:02-07:00http://www.pacifictakes.com/rss/stream/123082392016-08-11T08:01:02-07:002016-08-11T08:01:02-07:002016 Pac-12 final standing prediction countdown - #7 Arizona State
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Cactus Bowl-West Virginia vs Arizona State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rIkgOZgcvpR5zESLTrXMth69pKs=/3x0:2715x1808/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50289497/usa-today-9033521.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="pOXlH7">The long torture of summer sports is almost over, but we still have a little ways to go. To get things ready, I went over every single game on the Pac-12 schedule in 2016 and predicted records for each team.</p>
<p id="h0NFwu">I'm going to countdown how I think the teams ultimately stack up in the final regular season standings with snapshots of each team.</p>
<p id="KOBMD6"><strong>#12 was Oregon State</strong></p>
<p id="6vwS7T"><strong>#11 was Colorado</strong></p>
<p id="QI8dXm"><strong>#10 was Cal</strong></p>
<p id="m4oQe0"><strong>#9 was Arizona</strong></p>
<p id="4yQ6IO"><strong>#8 was Utah</strong></p>
<p id="dr05kv"><strong>#7 is...Arizona State</strong></p>
<p id="QugzAC"><strong>Prediction: </strong>6-6 (3-6) fourth in South</p>
<p id="5mrnTm"><strong>Bowl: </strong>Arizona Bowl vs. Nevada</p>
<p id="5aVMln"><strong>Wins: </strong>Northern Arizona, Texas Tech, at UTSA, Cal, Utah, at Arizona</p>
<p id="4cOoHg"><strong>Losses: </strong>at USC, UCLA, at Colorado, Washington State, at Oregon, at Washington</p>
<p id="styrFt">The Sun Devils are still talented and well-coached, but they need to replace a lot of starters on offense in 2016 and have a defense which got absolutely bombed in 2015. I think the Sun Devils have another transition year of sorts, crawl to a bowl game, but lose a lot games along the way.</p>
<p id="y1s8Tr"><strong>Non-conference: </strong>The Sun Devils have one challenging game out of conference at home against a strong Texas Tech team who I think they can outscore. I think they can also avoid an upset at UTSA to go 3-0 outside of the Pac-12.</p>
<p id="YfdQcf"><strong>In-conference: </strong>It’s a tough road for the Sun Devils in the Pac-12. There is not a single game on their Pac-12 schedule I am super confident about them winning. I think they have a good shot in every game, but getting to 3-4 wins in the Pac-12 will be hard. </p>
<p id="fx5Ik3">I think the Sun Devils are simply too talented and well-coached to not win a few Pac-12 games. I will give them an average Cal team at home and minor upset of Utah in Tempe and a close win at Arizona to get themselves to a bowl. </p>
<p id="aCQjbf">I think they will be very competitive in all of their conference losses except maybe at USC or Oregon or Washington. I predicted losses, but I think they will be favored at home against Colorado and their game at home against Washington State is a toss-up.</p>
<p id="IvIkgL"><strong>How Will It Feel In December?</strong></p>
<p id="LQmaa1">Not good. The Sun Devils had a step back year in 2015 and will follow it up with a very similar season. Things were tight around Todd Graham in December and this won’t change things very much. I don’t think it will put him on the hot seat, but the Sun Devils will need to have marked improvement in 2017.</p>
https://www.pacifictakes.com/2016/8/11/12363490/2016-pac-12-preview-countdown---8-arizona-state-sun-devils-maintain-status-quoJack Follman