The 5: Stat-based storylines as ASU faces No. 10 Washington

Arizona State surprised and disappointed with a challenging nonconference football schedule.

Now, first-year coach Herm Edwards gets his Pac-12 baptism against the class of the conference. The Sun Devils visit No. 10 Washington on Saturday facing an opponent with memories fresh of defeat against the maroon and gold. ASU wrecked the Huskies’ College Football Playoff hopes with a win at Sun Devil Stadium last year — it was another victory in a string of success against UW in the past decade-plus.

With the help of the ASU media relations department, here are five standout stat-based storylines, from ASU’s recent history against the Huskies to recent tendencies this season and beyond.

Eleven of 12

Arizona State has taken 11 of its last 12 games from Washington, the lone loss coming two years ago in a 44-18 road defeat to the No. 6 team in the nation. Otherwise, the Sun Devils have been stellar in seven home games and five road contests against the Huskies dating back to 2002.

ASU has outscored UW by an average of 30.3-19.3 in that span, and save for that 2016 blowout loss has held the Huskies below 25 points in every other game.

Seven or more

Arizona State and Louisiana Tech lead the nation with 124 consecutive games of scoring at least seven points. That stretch began after the Sun Devils fell 28-0 to the USC Trojans in 2008.

That statistic could be in jeopardy against a Washington team that’s 12th in the nation this year having allowed 10.3 points per game in three outings. A No. 9 Auburn team dropped 21 points on the Huskies in a season-opening loss before UW held North Dakota to a field goal and Utah to a touchdown.

The Sun Devils haven’t come close to that streak being broken since 2009, a 14-9 loss against USC that was the last time ASU scored in single digits.

A sluggish offensive finish to their 28-21 loss to San Diego State last Saturday might indicate this streak is threatened at Husky Stadium.

Don’t sleep

If it’s a barn-burner like a year ago, the Sun Devils had best play the field position game. Punter Michael Sleep-Dalton has been a key tool in that regard.

He’s pinned 10 of his 16 punts inside the opponent 20-yard line thus far, a total that is tied for the national lead. Sleep-Dalton’s 44.2 yards per punt is also seventh nationally.

He’s booted punts at least 50 yards in all three games so far and in the opener kicked a long of 62 yards.

Rush for an upset

The Sun Devils might want to bet on their ground game if an upset is in order.

Though ASU has a new running back group led by Eno Benjamin, he has continued a streak of turnover-less rushing. No Sun Devil running back has lost a fumble in 593 consecutive carries over 22 games. That dates back to 2016. Benjamin had quiet numbers against strong run defenses of Michigan State and San Diego State over the last two weeks, posting fewer than 30 yards and less than 2.2 yards per carry in each of those games.

Still, he’s been featured in the passing game — Benjamin caught 13 balls for 98 yards in the last two games — and according to Pro Football Focus ranks third nationally with 18 forced missed tackles this year (11 rushing and seven receiving).

Washington opponents have run the ball with decent success so far in 2018. The Huskies are allowing 4.0 yards per carry and 143.7 yards per game.

Kobe!

Arizona State cornerback Kobe Williams hasn’t garnered much attention this year. That’s because opponents haven’t given him the opportunities to do so.

The junior who finished 2017 with 36 tackles, an interception and five passes defensed in 2017 has just nine tackles through three games this season. He’s been targeted just six times this year, the third-lowest total in the country, and has allowed 31 total yards on those plays. That means he’s allowed 0.37 yards per play as the primary man in coverage.

When receivers have caught the ball against him, he’s allowed five total yards after the catch.

Follow @kzimmermanaz