Those scores might make you think that Stanford has Arizona State's number, but I'm not sure that's the case. Twenty fourteen, after all, is a new year. So is it a new Arizona State?

Stanford and Arizona State faced off twice last year, once on each school's home field, but the results were the same both times -- decisive victories for the Cardinal, 42-28 at Stanford, and 38-14 in the Pac-12 Championship game in Tempe.

The Sun Devils are 5-1 and ranked #17 in the nation, but a closer examination reveals that that record might not be as impressive as it looks at first glance. Their first win was a 45-14 shellacking of Weber State, an FCS team that's yet to win a game this season, and they followed that up with a 58-23 win over New Mexico and a 14-point victory in their Pac-12 opener against Colorado. Next, however, came a 62-27 slap in the face from UCLA and then the miracle 38-34 Hail Mary win over USC. To say that this is a statement game for the Sun Devils -- hosting the nationally-ranked two-time defending Pac-12 champions -- is an understatement. A win here would validate their own national ranking, exorcise their demons from 2013, and jumpstart the rest of their season.

The problem, of course, is that they won't get that win. At this point I'm fairly confident that Stanford has the best defense in the nation and is ready for any challenge the Sun Devil offense might bring, a situation which will put considerable pressure on the ASU defense. The Devil D ranks 92nd in the nation, allowing 31.4 points per game, but it looks even worse we discuss total yardage surrendered. Going back to the New Mexico game, they've given up 337, 545, 580, and 493 total yards over the past five games. (Even lowly Weber State managed 308.) ASU allows an average of 452.6 yards per game, 101st in the nation, and 6.07 yards per play, which is 98th. (For comparison's sake, Stanford's defense ranks 2nd and 1st in those two categories.)

Aside from UC Davis and Army, this is the worst defense Stanford has seen all season, and I think all this adds up to a decisive Stanford win, 34-13.

But I always think that, don't I? In an effort to provide a more balanced perspective, I give you Mike Slifer from the ASU site, Devils in Detail. (There is no shortage of punny ASU sites. You can also listen to a podcast called Speak of the Devils.) Anyway, here's Mike. Oh, and you can read my answers to his Cardinal questions over at his site. Enjoy...

Go Mighty Card:

So we know there's some uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position. Can you talk about the strengths and weaknesses of Taylor and Bercovici? Coach Graham has said both will play. Is that a good idea? Does it matter?

Devils in Detail:

Bercovici is pretty much a pocket passer. He's not a slug, but he's not a dual-threat. And he's a gun-slinger. He's a talented passer, but sometimes a little reckless. That's how he got beat out by Kelly in the first place-trying to fit balls into tight windows and getting them picked off. But when he's on, he's on--and can pick a defense apart. Kelly is a typical dual-threat QB. He can really run. He makes that zone-read option really tough to defend. Arguably, just his presence alone will open up more room for running back DJ Foster. But he is more of a game manager. He doesn't throw down the field as well as Bercovici. But he takes care of the ball and makes good decisions. I think the coaches will start Bercovici because Kelly isn't at 100% yet. Even if he was, he's going to be rusty. This isn't the game to shake off rust. Berco is healthy and ready to go, getting lots of reps in the last month with the first team. However, don't be surprised if Kelly comes out to play quarterback when ASU is in the Red Zone, especially inside the 12 yard line.

GMC:

I'm not sure I want to hear your answer, but tell me about Jaelon Strong anyway. He seemed to be dormant in the early part of the season, but then he woke up and thrashed the two L.A. schools. What makes him so good? Is there any way Stanford stops him on Saturday?

Devils in Detail:

Good point. And there is no doubt that this issue is part of the discussion amongst the coaches when talking about who should start at quarterback. ASU fans were asking that same question during the first three games; "why doesn't Kelly throw it to Jaelon Strong more often?" I don't believe that Strong was in any kind of slump or that other teams were scheming him. I believe that Taylor Kelly heard the message about relying too much on Strong last season and made a concerted effort to spread the ball around. In that process, he almost ignored Strong. Bercovici, on the other hand, hasn't gotten that message and keeps throwing the ball to Strong so he can just make a play. On top of that, Bercovici can really spin the ball, so the back-shoulder fades to Strong are almost impossible to defend. He's good for a couple of reasons, first he catches everything. (Good hands are important for receivers, after all.) But his size/speed combination makes him difficult to match up with. Jaelon can really run. He's fast enough that last year, he was used as a kick returner. That's not unusual for slot-back receivers who are 5-10", 185. But he's got excellent wheels for a 6'4", 225 pound frame. Finally, Strong just has good receiver instincts. Instincts that can't necessarily be taught. His body control, footwork, head/shoulder fakes, stop/start quickness, hand movement, etc make it hard for defenders to know when and where he's going to break off his route.

GMC:

What's going on with the running game and D.J. Foster? He opened with 510 yards in his first three games, but only gained a total of 43 against UCLA and USC. Are there concerns there?

Devils in Detail:

There are definitely some concerns for the recent running game woes. I was actually concerned earlier on. If you look back, many of DJ's big runs were more the result of his talent as opposed to great blocking up front. He bounced or spun off defenders or just outran them. (Weber State, New Mexico, Colorado) But the LA schools wouldn't let him do that. There's nothing wrong with DJ. If he gets a crease, he could hit a home run. It seems to me that this offensive line is not as proficient at run blocking as everyone had assumed. They're not terrible, but they aren't dominant, either. I don't think the coaches look at the stats as much as they do performance. This is a pass-happy system to begin with, so the coaches have no problem throwing the ball to move the chains. But against that Stanford defense, the inability to run the ball could be a huge problem.

GMC:

Looking ASU's season as a whole, they've got two blowout wins over non-conference teams, a blowout loss at the hands of UCLA, and a miracle win over USC. How good is this team, really? Do they deserve their #17 ranking? What are the expectations for the remainder of the season?

Devils in Detail:

Excellent question. If you want to get into what anybody "deserves", stand by for a heated discussion. The loss to UCLA was a total team loss: Four turnovers by the offense (leading to 24 points), special teams gave up a TD, defense missed tackles and gave up big plays. Against USC, the defense only forced one three and out, the very last USC possession. Putting the miracle 'Jael Mary' play aside, ASU probably shouldn't have won that game. The other three victories were blowouts in the end that had precarious moments, especially in the second quarter. So, to honestly answer your question, no, I do not believe they are worthy of a #17 ranking. Their defense is not good enough. The special teams are sketchy. Offensively, they can move the ball, but they are one dimensional right now. I hate to say it, but I believe that unless they figure something out, they are in for a rude awakening. As for expectations, the players and coaches don't care about any of that. They aim to win the conference and think that they can. They take a W and move on, trying to improve and win the next one.

GMC:

Stanford's offense had been struggling before they woke up in the loving arms of the Washington State defense last Friday night. What can we expect to see from the ASU defense? How will they attack Stanford? Who are the defensive stars?

Devils in Detail:

I think ASU's defense is going to struggle. They'll have to alter their front a little bit, moving another guy down into the box to help defend the run. And they'll put some bigger, less mobile bodies in there, as well. But the defensive front has gotten "pushed around" by lesser opponents than Stanford, so it will be a challenge for ASU to hold their ground up front. Head coach Todd Graham prides himself on having an attacking, aggressive defense, (and he'll definitely roll the dice a few times with blitzes) but I'd be willing to bet that they might play more conservatively this week, taking a "bend but don't break" approach. Who knows. As far as who to watch for on the ASU defense. Safety Damarious Randall is a ball-hawk. He's really talented. You'll see him flying around, along with fellow safety Jordan Simone, who had 20 tackles against USC. In my opinion, the most important defender to watch for ASU is linebacker Salamo Fiso (#58). He is the only real prototypical run-stopping, gap-filling linebacker that ASU has. He thrives in the downhill game, defensively. And as a red-shirt sophomore, he's the "old man" of this unit, having three years in the system.

GMC:

Finally, how do you expect the game to go? Who will win, what will the final score be, and how will we get there?

Devils in Detail:

I'm predicting a Stanford win, 28-24. I think Stanford will do what Stanford has done to ASU for the last five years, run it down their throat and burn clock doing it. The Cardinal will give up a couple of big plays to keep things interesting. But Stanford prevails in the end.