In a matchup featuring two squads ranked in the Top 17 overall nationally, the No. 17 Arizona State Sun Devils (+14) are paying a visit to the No. 13 Utah Utes (-14) at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Pac-12 Networks will televise the action and the game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET. When the two teams faced each other last year, Arizona State beat Utah 38-20.
Betting Preview: Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Utah Utes
In this Saturday Pac-12 game, Utah is tabbed as the big favorite and the team’s currently giving up 14 points. If they are wanting to play the moneyline, gamblers would currently need to spend $600 in order to win $100 back on the Utes (-600). The Sun Devils are getting +425 moneyline odds. If one side gets out in front early it will produce a reasonable betting opportunity in-game. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 48.5 points.
The game’s total has swung down after opening at 49.5. The original spread (-14) has yet to change.
Both of these teams have been profitable this season as the Sun Devils have gained 5.4 units and the Utes are up 1.3 units.
The Sun Devils are 5-1 straight up (SU), including 2-1 SU against Pac-12 opponents. The Utes are 5-1 SU overall and are also 2-1 SU in conference play.
Both teams come into this matchup on two-game winning streaks. The Sun Devils got their second W in as many tries after a 38-34 victory over Washington State last week where Jayden Daniels completed 26-of-36 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns. Eno Benjamin (137 rushing yards on 19 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Daniels (23 yards on 10 carries, one TD) led the ground attack. Brandon Aiyuk (seven receptions, 196 yards, three TDs) and Benjamin (six catches, 34 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Utah enters this one following a 52-7 win over Oregon State. The defense did its job in the victory, limiting the Beavers to just 169 passing yards and 48 rushing yards. Isaiah Hodgins had a productive outing in the loss for Oregon State, accounting for 77 yards on eight catches. For Utah, Tyler Huntley completed 14-of-17 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Wilmore (59 rushing yards on 12 attempts, one TD) and Devin Brumfield (37 yards on 10 carries, one TD) handled the running game as Demari Simpkins (four receptions, 97 yards) and Samson Nacua (three catches, 46 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Arizona State has run the ball on 55.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Utah has an overall rush percentage of 64.5 percent. The Sun Devils have run for 134.3 yards/game (including 156 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have nine scores on the ground this year. The Utes are putting up 228.8 rush yards per game (231.7 in conference) and have 15 total rushing TDs.
If 2019 numbers are any indication, then the Utes could hold an edge in terms of efficiency in the ground game. Their running backs has produced 5.4 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 2.4 to opponents. The Sun Devils have recorded 3.7 yards per carry while allowing 3.0 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Sun Devils offense has logged 268.3 yards/game through the air overall (294 per game versus conference opposition) and has eight passing scores so far. The Utes have produced 238.5 pass yards per outing (264 against Pac-12 competition) and have nine total pass TDs.
Arizona State has let opponents run for an average of 92 yards and pass for 262.8 yards per game. The Utah D has allowed 218.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 52.8 yards per game on the ground. The Utes are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.62 to opposing QBs, while the Sun Devils have allowed a 6.52 ANY/A.
Offensively, Daniels has put up 1,436 passing yards this season, and has connected on 64 percent of his 152 attempts with eight scores through the air and only one interception. Daniels has an 8.97 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.77 over the last two outings.
Tyler Huntley has completed 78-of-101 passes for 1,059 yards, seven TDs and zero INTs for Utah. His ANY/A stands at 11.51 for the season and 13.29 over his past two outings.
Arizona State Sun Devils at Utah Utes NCAA Pick
SU Winner: Utah, ATS Winner: Utah, O/U: Over
Betting Notes
- Each team defense has produced 10 sacks this year.
- Both offenses have lost three fumbles this season.
- The Sun Devils offense has registered nine pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Utes have accounted for six such plays.
- Both defenses have allowed three pass plays of 40 yards or more. The Arizona State defense has given up seven pass plays of 30+ yards while Utah has given up six such plays.
- The Arizona State offense has created four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Utah has created nine such run.
- The Sun Devils defense has allowed two rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Utes have given up one such run.
- The Over/Under for Utah’s last matchup was 60. The under cashed in the 52-7 victory over Oregon State.
- Over its last three games, Utah is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- In its last three matchups, Arizona State is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Arizona State’s last game was set at 61. The over cashed in the team’s 38-34 victory over Washington State.
- Arizona State, as a team, has averaged 4.3 yards per carry over its past three games and 4.5 over its last two.
- Utah has averaged 5.3 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.4 over its past two.
