The Arizona State Sun Devils (+3) are heading northeast to battle their Pac-12 rival No. 21 Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Pac-12 Networks has the TV rights and kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Colorado Buffaloes vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
In this Saturday Pac-12 game, Colorado is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 3 points. The Sun Devils are also receiving +120 moneyline odds while the Buffaloes are -140. Some good in-game betting opportunities could be unveiled during the matchup, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 61.5 points.
The line opened at -2. The game’s total has yet to move since it was initially set at 61.5.
The Sun Devils have lost 0.7 units so far and are 4-1 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 3-2.
The surprising Buffaloes are up 3.4 units this season. They’re 3-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 0-3.
The Sun Devils are 3-2 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against Pac-12 opponents. The Buffaloes are 4-0 SU overall and are also 1-0 SU in conference play.
The Sun Devils are coming off a resounding 52-24 win over Oregon State last week. Manny Wilkins completed only 14-of-25 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Eno Benjamin (312 yards on 30 rush attempts, three TDs) and the signal-caller Wilkins (61 yards on nine carries) led the ground attack in the win. N’Keal Harry (five receptions, 84 yards, one TD) and Kyle Williams (four catches, 39 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties.
Colorado just earned a 38-16 win over UCLA. The defense allowed the Bruins to run for 151 yards on 28 rush attempts. Joshua Kelley had a productive outing in the defeat for UCLA, posting 124 rushing yards on 12 attempts. For Colorado, Steven Montez completed 22-of-26 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown. Travon McMillian (102 yards on 21 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Montez (81 yards on 11 carries, two TDs) mounted the ground attack in the win while Laviska Shenault Jr. (12 receptions, 126 yards, one TD) and Tony Brown (six catches, 77 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Arizona State has run the ball on 51.0 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Colorado has an overall rush percentage of 58.0 percent. The Sun Devils have rushed for 181.2 yards/game (including 280.0 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have nine scores via handoffs this year. The Buffaloes are putting up 205.5 rush yards per game and have 11 total rushing TDs.
Based on the early season results, it seems like the Sun Devils could hold an edge when it comes to RB effectiveness. Their running backs has produced 5.1 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 3.8 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Buffaloes have ran for 4.7 yards per carry and given up 4.1 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Sun Devils offense has averaged 244.8 yards in the air overall (133.0 per game versus conference opposition) and has 10 passing scores so far. The Buffaloes have recorded 284.3 pass yards per outing and have nine total pass TDs.
Arizona State has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 161.6 yards and throw for 201.6 yards per game. The Colorado defense has allowed 195.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 156.3 yards per game on the ground. The Buffaloes are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.19 to opposing QBs, while the Sun Devils have given up a 5.05 ANY/A.
Montez probably has the advantage over Wilkins in this matchup. The Buffaloes man under center has an adjusted net yards per pass attempt 9.12 for the season and 8.00 over his past two outings while Wilkins’ ANY/A is 8.45 and 6.27 over the last two outings.
When these two squads faced each other last year, Arizona State got the victory over Colorado, 41-30.
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Colorado Buffaloes Free Pick
SU Winner: Colorado, ATS Winner: Colorado, O/U: Under
Betting Notes
- Arizona State was favored by 22 points in its last game and the Over/Under going into it was 64.5. The over cashed and Arizona State covered in the 52-24 victory over Oregon State.
- Arizona State has rushed for 5.32142857142857 yards per attempt over its last three games and 6.4 over its last two.
- Colorado has averaged 4.2 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.3 over its last two.
- Each team has lost one fumble this year.
- Over its last three contests, Arizona State is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Colorado was favored by 10 points in its last matchup and the O/U was 57.5. The under cashed and Colorado covered in the 38-16 victory over UCLA.
- The Sun Devils offense has registered four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Buffaloes have put up seven such plays.
- The Arizona State defense has allowed one pass play of 40 or more yards, while Colorado has given up two such plays.
- The Arizona State offense has created nine rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Colorado has created eight such runs.
- The Sun Devils defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Buffaloes have given up eight such runs.
- The Arizona State D has sacked opposing quarterbacks 18 times this season. Colorado has produced 13 sacks.
