Cougs’ passing attack may meet its match in Arizona State’s secondary

Luke Falk is coming off of a 471-yard, five-touchdown performance in the Cougars' win over Oregon State. (AP)

Washington State (3-7) at No. 13 Arizona State (8-2)

• Kickoff: 10 a.m. Saturday
• Where: Sun Devil Stadium
• Radio: 710 ESPN Seattle
• Line: Arizona State by 15

What’s at stake: For Arizona State, a chance to get into the Pac-12 championship game against Oregon if it can win this week and then beat Arizona next week and if USC beats UCLA on Saturday.

For Washington State, a chance to continue a season-salvaging final stretch that started two Saturdays ago with a 39-32 win over Oregon State in Corvallis. The Cougars are 3-7 and have one more game after this, the Apple Cup next Saturday in Pullman.

Why the Cougs might win: Unless I was seeing things in Corvallis, Luke Falk is the best quarterback we’ve had in years. I’ve had at least two former NFL quarterbacks tell me how impressed they were with Falk in his starting debut against the Beavers, when he completed 44 of 61 passes for 471 yards and five touchdowns.

Along with Vince Mayle, Tyler Baker gives Falk another interesting target, and River Cracraft may return from injury this week, too.

Problem is, Washington State’s strength – throwing the ball for an FBS-leading 477.6 yards a game – is going against Arizona State’s strength. The Sun Devils are second in the Pac-12 in pass defense at 233 yards allowed a game.

Maybe this will be a game in which Jamal Morrow and Gerard Wicks get more rushing opportunities because Arizona State is 11th in the Pac-12 in run defense, giving up 173.5 yards a game.

But Falk gives the Cougars their best shot at an upset. He’s accurate and has a nice presence in the pocket, knowing when to get rid of the ball. He also has an ability to avoid sacks. Falk has been nothing but terrific since taking over for Connor Halliday when he was injured in the first quarter of the USC game three weeks ago.

Why the Cougs might lose: I wonder which Arizona State team will show up – one that wants to avenge the surprising loss to the Beavers last week or hopefully the one that won’t be as motivated after blowing a chance to reach the national championship playoff. The Sun Devils were ranked sixth before losing to Oregon State.

Since returning from injury four weeks ago, Sun Devils quarterback Taylor Kelly hasn’t been as sharp as he was last year. But the Cougars’ secondary has been shaky all season, and it won’t help that Daquawn Brown will miss the first half of Saturday’s game because of a suspension after he “targeted” an Oregon State player. Everyone who saw that supposed “target” knows that was a bad call, but Brown still won’t be able to play until the second half.

Arizona State receiver Jaelen Strong, who caught the game-winning Hail Mary against USC, is questionable for the game because of a concussion but practiced on Thursday.

In the category of strange stats, the Cougars have only two interceptions this year. And after one game in which the special teams played better, I’m still worried about Arizona State returning a punt or a kick for a touchdown. The Cougars have allowed six of them this year.

Because of Falk, I’m more hopeful than I’d normally be for a game in Tempe, but we never play well at Sun Devil Stadium, even in years when we have good teams.

Prediction: Arizona State 44, Washington 31
Season record against the spread: 6-4

The Go 2 Guy also writes for SeattlePI.com and KitsapSun.com. You can reach Jim at jimmoorethego2guy@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @cougsgo.