FoxSports’ Mandel: Arizona State is being underrated

FoxSports' Mandel: Arizona State is being underrated

Jul 30, 2015, 12:50 PM

The Arizona State Sun Devils were ranked 16th in the Amway Coaches Poll released Thursday.

It’s not a bad spot for coach Todd Graham’s team, which won 10 games for the second consecutive season last year and enters the 2015 campaign with high expectations.

However, according to FoxSports.com’s Stuart Mandel, the Devils are not getting their proper due.

In a piece going over teams that were overrated and underrated by the coaches, he points to the Devils — who were picked to finish second behind USC in the Pac-12 South by the conference’s media — as a team that is better than they are being given credit for.

The Sun Devils — coming off consecutive 10-win seasons — are my pick to win the stacked Pac-12 South. Mike Bercovici has shown star power at quarterback, he’s got a deep tailback stable behind him and a deep and athletic defense to help. Swap USC and ASU.

Indeed, the Devils have plenty going for them heading into this season. With Bercovici leading the way, the offense should once again be one of the best in the nation. It may even be more explosive than before, as the senior passer has a better arm than his predecessor, Taylor Kelly. Mandel also mentions the team’s stable of running backs, which is so deep that last year’s leading rusher, D.J. Foster, was moved to receiver.

Of course, that isn’t to say the Devils are perfect, as they will have to replace a dominant receiver in Jaelen Strong as well as defensive playmakers Damarious Randall and Marcus Hardison. Yet, year four of the Graham era looks very promising, and could very well shape up to be one of the best in program history.

By the way, the season kicks off on Sept. 5 when ASU battlex Texas A&M at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.