We continue with our Pac-12 vs. SEC challenge. Next up: Arizona State vs. LSU

This is the "debate" lineup for the week:

Alabama vs. Oregon: Monday

Auburn vs. USC: Tuesday

Georgia vs. UCLA: Tuesday

LSU vs. Arizona State: Wednesday

Ole Miss vs. Stanford: Wednesday

Arkansas vs. Arizona: Thursday

Missouri vs. Utah: Friday

Kevin Gemmell: OK, David. Let's keep this clean. We're both adults and respected writers in our field. I don't want us to geaux off the deep end with weird stereotypes about each other's teams for the sake of a cheap laugh. I heauxp we can keep it friendly. I kneaux there is a ton of talent and speed in the SEC. And I respect it. Just as I'm sure you kneaux there is plenty of both in the Pac-12. (OK, maybe that was a bit gratuitous.)

It's no secret that ASU's first task would be stopping Leonard Fournette. But before we start digging into the particulars, what else should Pac-12 fans know about the Tigers?

David Ching: No doubt, there's a lot of talent and speed in both spots. I'd think LSU's power would be the main area of concern for Arizona State, though. There are some large, powerful human beings on the Tigers' offensive line, and Fournette is a load himself. In this hypothetical matchup, I have a feeling LSU would try to mash Arizona State up front -- ASU was OK against the run last year but nothing special -- and challenge the Sun Devils to stop them.

But that's not what I would consider the most intriguing aspect of this game. Even if they're breaking in a new quarterback, the Sun Devils should be a lot of fun to watch in the passing game. How do you think they'd fare against LSU's secondary, which might rank among the best in the country?

Gemmell: The good news is Mike Bercovici doesn't need much breaking in. While filling in for the injured Taylor Kelly last year, he tossed 12 touchdowns to four interceptions and guided the Sun Devils to a 2-1 record, which included wins over No. 16 USC on the road and No. 23 Stanford at home. They switched 1,000-yard rusher D.J. Foster to wide receiver, which should provide the deep threat left vacant by Jaelen Strong's going into the draft. And ASU's offensive coordinator, Mike Norvell, is one of the brightest minds in the business. There's a reason Auburn and Notre Dame wanted him two seasons ago as their offensive coordinator, but he hitched his wagon to coach Todd Graham.

I love the idea of LSU going right after the Sun Devils' defense. And I'm pretty sure Graham would like that idea too. The defense is his baby and he fancies it “an attacking hybrid defense.” Essentially that means he's relentless about blitzing.

Some numbers: ASU blitzed 294 times last year, more than any other Power 5 team. From that, they produced 32 sacks (most among Power 5 teams), seven interceptions and yielded 4.5 yards per play. Conversely, LSU was last in the SEC, completing just 44 percent of passes when facing the blitz. LSU's quarterbacks were sacked 16 times when blitzed (most in the SEC) and had just seven touchdowns to four interceptions.

If these two teams were ever to meet, these numbers tell me it would be an awesome chess match and guessing game for both coaches.

Ching: Those blitz numbers you cite are interesting, but I'm not sure how much they matter on the LSU side. Assuming sophomore Brandon Harris wrestles the starting quarterback job away from last year's starter Anthony Jennings -- and it looks as if that's what is going to happen, based on the Tigers' early practices -- we have limited evidence on which to base a projection on how Harris would fare. He played in eight games as a true freshman, though with the exception of his lone, disastrous start against Auburn, almost all of his playing time came in mop-up duty.

It would be fascinating to see how he held up against that kind of steady pressure, though. I'm in the camp that thinks he is going to become a star, but I'm not sure whether he's there just yet. There's a reason many of the nation's most prolific offenses -- including Arizona State -- chased Harris as a high school prospect, however. He can flat-out chuck it, and he's an impressive runner, too. I have a feeling that if Arizona State managed to slow down Fournette & Co., Harris could still make enough plays for LSU to win a shootout. It could easily go down as one of the best games of the season, but it's a matchup I could see the Tigers winning -- particularly if they got to host the Sun Devils on a Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.

Gemmell: The venue would certainly contribute. Things get pretty toasty in Tempe, even at the 10:30 p.m. ET kickoffs we're used to here on the West Coast.

I think the only real comparison we can go off of for now is last year's lone common opponent, Notre Dame. The Sun Devils smacked them around something awful to the tune of 55-31. LSU, of course, lost by a field goal in the ill-fated Music City Bowl. Different circumstances entirely, granted, but still a decent gauge for our little hypothetical scenario.

On a neutral field, I'll toe the party line and take the blitz-happy Sun Devils.