Can ASU win the Pac-12 South?

Why the Sun Devils have a good chance of winning their division in 2013

Updated: February 22, 2013, 2:45 PM ET

By KC Joyner | ESPN Insider

One of the key elements in turning a program around is being in the right place at the right time. Some coaches can be like Bear Bryant and take teams from worst to first under far-less-than-ideal conditions (as Bryant did with the Kentucky Wildcats and Texas A&M Aggies), but in most cases this type of occurrence happens when talent meets opportunity.

There are a number of teams that could see that type of ascension in the 2013 college football season, with the most likely candidate of that bunch being the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Head coach Todd Graham took significant steps in this direction last season when he guided the Sun Devils to their first winning campaign since 2007 and their first bowl win since 2005.

As notable as those achievements are, things could be even better this season, as Arizona State should be considered the favorite to win the Pac-12 South division and therefore contend for its first Rose Bowl appearance since the 1996 season.

The first reason to believe in the Sun Devils this season is a strong offense that revolves around the skills of quarterback Taylor Kelly.

To read more from KC Joyner on Arizona State's chances to win the Pac-12 South, you must be an ESPN Insider.