*** Welcome to the Hotline’s projections for every Pac-12 sport of the 2022 season. The 12-part sequence shall be revealed in six installments, with groups grouped by journey companions. Coming later right now: Arizona State …
Arizona Wildcats
Coach: Jedd Fisch (second season)
Offensive coordinator: Brennan Carroll (second season)
Defensive coordinator: Johnny Nansen (first season)
2021 document: 1-11/1-8
Arizona’s five-year win totals: 3-7-5-4-1 (2020 season excluded)
Final postseason look: 2017 Foster Farms Bowl (misplaced to Purdue)
Greatest-case 2022 situation: 6-6
Worst-case 2022 situation: 2-10
Projected beginning quarterback: Jayden de Laura
Key query: Will the offseason roster upgrades translate into a major uptick in victories earlier than the honeymoon section of Fisch’s tenure vanishes?
Right here we go …
Sept. 3: at San Diego State
End result: win
Document: 1-0
Remark: The Wildcats stun SDSU within the inaugural sport at Snapdragon Stadium as de Laura makes all of the performs down the stretch.
Sept. 10: vs. Mississippi State
End result: loss
Document: 1-1
Remark: The final time Mike Leach set foot in Arizona Stadium (2017), his workforce scored 37 factors in a loss. This time, he’ll get 37 and a victory.
Sept. 17: vs. North Dakota State
End result: win
Document: 2-1
Remark: NDSU is a first-class FCS program that produced Carson Wentz and Trey Lance. However the Wildcats realized a brutal lesson final 12 months in opposition to Northern Arizona and shall be prepared for the duty.
Sept. 24: at Cal
End result: loss
Document: 2-2/0-1
Remark: It’s solely the fourth sport, however Arizona’s grueling non-conference schedule exacts a bodily toll. The Wildcats are flat, and flattened.
Oct. 1: vs Colorado
End result: win
Document: 3-2/1-1
Remark: Again residence and reeling from the beatdown in Berkeley, the Wildcats present they aren’t the worst workforce within the convention.
Oct. 8: vs. Oregon
End result: loss
Document: 3-3/1-2
Remark: We have been tempted to select an upset given how this sequence has performed out in Tucson over the many years. However that feels a tad too apparent. Geese win, and it’s not shut within the fourth quarter.
Oct. 15: at Washington
End result: loss
Document: 3-4/1-3
Remark: The Huskies haven’t forgotten de Laura planting the WSU flag on their turf following the ’21 Apple Cup. On this present day, they plant him into the turf, repeatedly.
Oct. 22: idle
Remark: Good timing, given what lies forward.
Oct. 29: vs. USC
End result: loss
Document: 3-5/1-4
Remark: We anticipate important enchancment from Arizona’s protection (partly as a result of the offense shall be competent). However the Wildcats don’t have the back-line personnel to include USC’s aerial sport. Guess the over, no matter it's.
Nov. 5: at Utah
End result: loss
Document: 3-6/1-5
Remark: If the Wildcats hadn’t given Utah a first-class scare final season, they may have an opportunity to do exactly that this time round. However alas …
Nov. 12: at UCLA
End result: loss
Document: 3-7/1-6
Remark: 4 quarters in Salt Lake Metropolis isn't any method to put together for UCLA’s punishing floor sport. Bruised, battered and staggering, the Wildcats put up little resistance within the Rose Bowl.
Nov. 19: vs. Washington State
End result: loss
Document: 3-8/1-7
Remark: How will de Laura reply emotionally to dealing with his former workforce? Not in addition to his former workforce responds emotionally to dealing with him.
Nov. 25 (Friday): vs. ASU
End result: win
Document: 4-8/2-7
Remark: Herm Edwards despatched Kevin Sumlin packing two years in the past with a 70-7 wipeout. Will Fisch do the identical to Edwards? Fairly probably, though we are able to’t think about the Wildcats scoring greater than 65.
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