A couple of schools that like to keep it on the ground, Coach Kevin Sumlin and the Arizona Wildcats (+13) are taking the field against the Arizona State Sun Devils (-13) at Sun Devil Stadium, Frank Kush Field. Kickoff is pretty late for fans on the East Coast (10:00 p.m. ET) and ESPN has the TV rights.
Betting Preview: Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Arizona Wildcats
Arizona is a live dog in this one and is currently getting 13 points. The Wildcats are also receiving +375 moneyline odds while the Sun Devils are -550. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 59.5 points, and if one side can create a bunch of points early, it will probably create a solid live betting opportunity.
The opening line was -13 while the O/U has yet to move after it was set initially at 59.5.
The less-than-stellar Wildcats are down 5.6 units so far and 2-9 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under mark of 6-5.
The Sun Devils have gained 4.3 units this season. The team is 4-6-1 ATS and also owns an O/U record of 6-5.
The Wildcats are 4-7 straight up (SU), including 2-6 SU against conference opponents. The Sun Devils are 6-5 SU overall and are also 3-5 SU in conference play.
When these two programs met a year ago, Arizona State emerged victorious by a score of 41-40.
The Wildcats are most-recently reeling from a 35-7 loss to Utah last week. The Wildcats defense allowed the Utes to eat up the clock by rushing for 297 yards on 50 attempts, including four rush TDs. On the offense, the Wildcats completed 14-of-27 passes for 135 yards. Grant Gunnell went eight-for-16 for 96 yards while Khalil Tate completed six-of-11 for 39 yards. J.J. Taylor (just 33 rushing yards on 10 attempts) led the ground attack while Cedric Peterson (four receptions, 63 yards) and Tayvian Cunningham (three catches, 14 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Arizona State just earned a 31-28 win over Oregon. Jayden Daniels completed 22-of-32 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns. Eno Benjamin (114 rushing yards on 31 attempts) mounted the running attack while Brandon Aiyuk (seven receptions, 161 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Each team sports a similar (52-48) run-pass ratio on the season. Having said that, the Wildcats have run for 175.7 yards/game (including 126.3 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have 19 scores on the ground this year. The Sun Devils haven’t been quite as productive, as they’re totaling 116.5 rushing yards per game (117.9 in conference) and have 11 total rush TDs.
The Wildcats offense has averaged 269.5 yards through the air overall (266.3 per game versus conference opposition) and has 21 passing scores so far. The Sun Devils have produced 266.9 pass yards per outing (276 against Pac-12 foes) and also have 21 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Arizona has allowed 176.8 rush yards and 306.7 pass yards per game. The Arizona State D has allowed 273.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 113.4 yards per game to opposing runners. The Sun Devils are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 7.22 to opponents, while the Wildcats have given up a 7.81 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Gunnell has amassed 1,157 yards this season. The signal-caller has completed 65 percent of his 141 attempts with nine scores through the air and only one interception. He has an 8.27 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 4.28 over the last two outings.
On the other sideline, Jayden Daniels has completed 157-of-255 passes for 2,310 yards, 14 TDs and two INTs. Daniels’ ANY/A sits at 8.63 for the season and 10.93 across his past two games.
Arizona Wildcats at Arizona State Sun Devils NCAA Tip
SU Winner: Arizona State, ATS Winner: Arizona State, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- The O/U for Arizona’s last game was set at 56. The under cashed in the team’s 35-7 loss to Utah.
- As a team, Arizona has produced 2.9 yards per carry across its last three outings and 2.6 over its last two.
- Arizona State has averaged 2.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.0 over its past two.
- The Arizona State offense has lost eight fumbles this season while Arizona has lost six.
- Over its last three matches, Arizona is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Arizona State’s previous game was 54.5. The over cashed in that 31-28 victory over Oregon.
- In its last three matches, Arizona State is 1-1-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The Wildcats offense has registered 12 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Sun Devils have put up 16 such plays.
- The Arizona defense has allowed 11 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Arizona State has given up six such plays.
- The Arizona offense has created 19 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Arizona State has created seven such runs.
- The Wildcats defense has allowed 15 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Sun Devils have given up six such runs.
- The Arizona State defense has registered 21 sacks on the year while Arizona has just 14.
