Arizona State football will upset UCLA, make college bowl game, Pac-12 insider says

Down on the Arizona State football team and its 3-5 record?

Well, things are going to start looking up for the Sun Devils and their outlook for the rest of the season, according to one Pac-12 insider.

They are going to start looking up fast.

The San Jose Mercury News' Jon Wilner is predicting that ASU will upset No. 10 UCLA in the Pac-12 game on Saturday.

He is also predicting that interim coach Shaun Aguano's team will make a bowl game at the end of the season, which would mean the team would have to go 3-1 at worst over its final four games of the season.

Wilner made his predictions for the Sun Devils in a couple of stories this week.

For subscribers: Arizona State-UCLA football scouting report: Can Sun Devils upset another ranked team?

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ASU football prediction No. 1: Arizona State will beat UCLA on Saturday

In his Pac-12 picks for this week, he had ASU winning over UCLA outright as his "Five-star special" of the week.

"As we outlined earlier this week, the Sun Devils won’t simply cover; they will win the game outright," he wrote. "You can thank us later."

Wilner added: "A dangerous game for UCLA that’s comparable, although not identical, to the one faced by sixth-ranked Oregon three years ago when it ventured to the desert as a double-digit favorite — and lost. ASU has more than enough playmakers around quarterback Trenton Bourguet to score early and often. The Bruins will find the end zone frequently,  as well. Close all the way except in one respect: The final score will make mincemeat of the total. Pick: Arizona State."

More: UCLA vs. Arizona State picks, predictions, odds: Who wins Week 10 Pac-12 football game?

ASU football prediction No. 2: Arizona State will make a college football bowl game this season

Wilner wasn't done.

In his Pac-12 bowl projections earlier this week, Wilner added Arizona State into the pool of Pac-12 teams eligible for a bowl game, which means Arizona State would have to win three of its four remaining games this season.

After hosting UCLA this week, the Sun Devils play at Washington State on Nov. 12, host Oregon State on No. 19 and play at Arizona on Nov. 25.

Wilner wrote: "Lose to the Bruins, and the Devils would have to sweep Washington State, Oregon State and Arizona — a steep challenge, for sure. But the Hotline isn’t picking ASU to lose to the Bruins. We envision a November upset in the desert, another November upset in the desert. Remember 2019? Oregon ventured into Sun Devil Stadium with one loss, a No. 6 ranking, an elite quarterback (Justin Herbert), designs on the playoff — and lost. Here come the one-loss, 10th-ranked Bruins with quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson playing at a high level. And we see a similar outcome."

Arizona State beating UCLA would be quite an upset. The 7-1 Bruins are 11-point favorites in the game, according to Tipico Sportsbook.

"This bowl would be the Gasparilla, Armed Forces or First Responders," Wilner added. "But it could be any game, anywhere — even the North Korea Bowl — and the Sun Devils would jump at the chance."

How to watch: UCLA vs. Arizona State schedule, television

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why Arizona State football will upset UCLA, make college bowl game