Arizona

What BYU coach Kalani Sitake said about Arizona State game

Published

3 hours ago

November 21, 2024

What BYU coach Kalani Sitake said about Arizona State game

BYU’s stock plummeted this week.

After suffering a 17-13 loss to Kansas — their first loss of the season — the Cougars dropped from No. 6 to No. 14 in the College Football Playoff Rankings and into a tie with Colorado for first place in the Big 12.

And now they’re 3.5-point underdogs to Arizona State (8-2) in arguably the biggest game on the college football schedule this weekend. The winner will be in the pole position for a berth in the Big 12 championship game; the loser will be all but eliminated.

BYU coach Kalani Sitake knows anything can happen in the Big 12, and the Cougars are still very much alive for a berth in the College Football Playoff.

“You look at the conference, there’s a lot of parity … anyone has a shot,” Sitake said during his weekly press conference.

Here is a snapshot of what Sitake said ahead of BYU’s game with Arizona State:

Sitake on ASU Coach Kenny Dillingham

“Kenny Dillingham is a really good coach. I have a lot of respect for him and the way he coaches his team. You can tell he’s got a great connection with his players, and he’s a local kid so he’s from that area. He grew up an ASU fan and knows what that program can do. … I think he did it the right way bringing in a lot of local staff. … I know a lot of guys on his coaching staff. They’re really good coaches, good men.

“Looking at the talent that they have, it’s a difficult matchup. You have to be ready. We’re going on the road. We already know the time for that game and that it will be a little better weather than what we have here [in Provo]. Looking forward to the matchup. I think the goal is for us, like we said every week, stay humble, stay hungry and find ways to get better.”

Sitake on ASU Quarterback Sam Leavitt

“Really good player. He comes from a good family. He’s super athletic. He can run, he’s got an accurate arm. I think he’s got a great football IQ. He’s dangerous. He’s got a lot of football to play. I think he he saw some opportunities over there at ASU and you look at him, he’s thriving in it. He’s going to be a difficult matchup for us for sure. But man, it’s good to see good young men that you know are from amazing families get what they want. He’s doing some really cool things and he’s going to be doing really good things for a long time becauase I think he’s only a freshman right now. The sky’s the limit for him. Hopefully we just don’t see that great ‘sky limit’ performance this weekend.”

Sitake on BYU’s Recent Offensive Struggles

“There’s a fine line between it all … the key to execution is just eliminating the mistakes. There shouldn’t be any mistakes. Whether it’s alignment issues or technique issues or even running the wrong route or not doing the correct assignment. So all that should be cleaned up. But there’s also some room for improvement where you can actually install some stuff. You want to have a foundation of stuff that you’re good at and that you could lean on, but that’s the stuff that everybody knows is coming. So we have to have that and you have to have a little bit of install that gives you the favorable matchup, depending on who you’re going against.”

“That’s what we’re trying to get done. Obviously it’s worked quite a bit, and the offense they’re getting in the red zone. We’ve just got to score touchdowns. It’s hard to get in the red zone and only kick field goals. Even though you have a good kicker like Will Ferrin you’re going to need to score points and score touchdowns and finish the drives. It gives you a little bit more motivation and a little bit more ‘umph’ when you’re trying to get it done, so that’s what we’re focusing on.”

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Arizona

Five Takeaways: Arizona defense Wednesday press conference (TCU)

Published

11 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Five Takeaways: Arizona defense Wednesday press conference (TCU)

Fresh off breaking its five-game losing streak last week, Arizona heads back on the road this week to take on one of the most potent passing attacks in the country in TCU.

The Wildcats are coming off one of their most complete defensive performances this past week and figure to be challenged more against the Horned Frogs who head into this week boasting the No. 6 passing offense in the country. They will challenge the banged up Arizona secondary that has had many younger players step into key roles as the season has progressed. We’ve seen improvement across the board from them as they’ve seen more reps on the field.

Here are five takeaways from coach Brett Arce as well as Owen Goss and Dominic Lolesio during Wednesday’s press conference.

Dominic Lolesio getting into the starting lineup

The injuries continue to pile up on the defensive side of the ball for Arizona that has led to lots of new players stepping into roles they may not have expected to be in at the start of the season.

Redshirt freshman Dominic Lolesio saw the field more last week in what was one of the more complete defensive performances of the season by Arizona. Lolesio recorded five tackles and a 0.5 tackle for loss.

“That’s just the standard,” Lolesio said. “We practice that all week. Our thing is to swarm to the ball and play together and have fun. I mean doing it all week in practice and then being able to go out and do it on Friday felt really good.”

Despite the injuries that have come up for Arizona, the next man up stance remains the same for the team.

“I feel like everyone is just as ready as the next man up,” Lolesio said.

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Arizona

Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 12 game

Published

18 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 12 game

With the entirety of the NFC West within one game of each other, the division is anyone’s race. That makes this matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals all the more pivotal.

A loss for Seattle would put them at 5-6, two games out of first place with a 1-3 record in divisional play. That’s a death sentence for anyone looking to reach the playoffs. Arizona, meanwhile, has a little more leeway. They’ve yet to lose in the division, and they are coming off a bye. They’ll be well-rested and well-prepared for this matchup.

Here are our experts’ predictions for this Week 12 NFC West showdown.

PROP TALK: These are the best prop bets for NFL games this week

The Cardinals are favorites to defeat the Seahawks, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

Spread: Cardinals (-1)
Moneyline: Cardinals (-110); Seahawks (-110)
Over/under: 47.5

Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds and Monday Night Football odds.

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NFL Week 12 odds, predictions and picks

Lorenzo Reyes: Cardinals 27, Seahawks 23

Arizona is coming off its bye and Kyler Murray has been excellent this year. The Seahawks and coach Mike Macdonald have installed an oppressive defense, but I’m more concerned about Seattle’s offense keeping pace with the Cardinals.

Tyler Dragon: Seahawks 24, Cardinals 22

This one has the potential to be the game of the week. Kyler Murray and the Cardinals have been a pleasant surprise this year. However, the Seahawks got a massive win in San Francisco last week. A home victory versus Arizona could put them in the driver’s seat in the NFC West.

Richard Morin: Seahawks 21, Cardinals 20

The NFC West gets even more jumbled as the Seahawks and Cardinals both move to 6-5 after this one.

Jordan Mendoza: Cardinals 23, Seahawks 20

This game will be the true test of whether the Cardinals are a legit playoff contender. Kyler Murray provides some more magic to give Arizona a remarkable fifth-straight win.

MOST VALUABLE BET: Who is the favorite to win NFL MVP in 2024?

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Arizona

Residents frustrated over desert dumping in southern Arizona

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Residents frustrated over desert dumping in southern Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Many of us love the landscape of the southern Arizona desert, but others may not care as much as scattered trash piles are becoming a new normal.

Residents living in the Tortolina area told 13 News they’re frustrated and angry over the dumping.

Clint told 13 News he brought his four kids out to the desert over the years, but it is starting to get worse.

“I don’t like it one bit,” Clint said. “My kids don’t like to see it, my friends and neighbors that come out here, we just really dislike it a lot. It’s disheartening, is a word I can say.”

One of his most recent finds was construction debris from a bathroom remodel, which included a worn-down bathtub, remnants of drywall, and torn boxes.

Clint found an address on one of the boxes. He said he and his friend went to the home and informed the owners of the trash.

He said the homeowners seemed unaware of the problem but the following day, the trash was gone.

“No harm no foul but they got caught,” Clint said. “Had they not, then it would still be sitting out there.”

Something similar happened about 10 years ago to Tucson resident Connie Coons. She hired someone to take her trash out to the dump, but the trash didn’t make it there.

“I got a letter in the mail probably a couple of weeks later,” Coons said. “It was a picture of my garbage in somebody’s alley.”

The city explained to her over the phone that the trash was cleared, but she was already embarrassed.

Coons tried to call the person she hired, but she was unable to reach them.

“I was angry that I trusted these people and gave them money to do a job, and then I did not get the job,” Coons said.

More than a decade years after the incident, trash dumping continues to be an ongoing issue. Both Clint and Coons told 13 News that they wish people would think twice before inappropriately disposing of their trash.

“It’s sad that we, as a society, are still thinking that it’s acceptable,” Coons added. “Not the vast majority, but obviously there is people that don’t have a problem with dumping garbage in the desert.”

Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@13newskold

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