The Arizona State Sun Devils (+7) are heading west to visit the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This conference game gets underway at 3:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to ABC. These squads met a year ago with the final outcome being a 48-17 victory for USC.
Arizona State Sun Devils at USC Trojans Betting Preview
Arizona State is a live dog in this Saturday matchup and is currently getting 7 points. The Sun Devils are also receiving +210 moneyline odds while the Trojans are -270. If one team can find paydirt early it will create a worthwhile live betting scenario. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 54 points.
This game’s total hasn’t moved after it was initially set at 54. Having said that, the opening line was -4 so sharp bettors are siding with the Trojans.
The Sun Devils are 4-3 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 2.6 units so far in 2018. The team’s posted an O/U record of 3-4. The Trojans have gained 0.0 units this season. The team is 2-5 ATS and has an O/U record of 4-3.
The Sun Devils have gone 3-4 straight up (SU), including 1-3 SU against Pac-12 opponents. The Trojans are 4-3 SU overall and are also 3-2 SU in conference play.
The Sun Devils dropped one to Stanford 20-13 in a contest where Manny Wilkins completed 26-of-43 passes for 353 yards and one interception. Wilkins (41 rushing yards on 11 attempts, one TD) also mounted the ground attack and was complemented by Eno Benjamin (38 yards on 11 carries). N’Keal Harry (eight receptions, 91 yards) and Kyle Williams (five catches, 46 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
On October 20, Utah took care of this USC team by a score of 41-28. The Trojans defense let the Utes pass for 341 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 200 yards. Zack Moss had a good showing for Utah, accounting for 136 rushing yards on 25 attempts. As a group, the Trojans collectively completed 12-of-23 passes for 132 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. JT Daniels went six-for-16 for 89 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while Matt Fink was six-of-seven for 43 yards and one touchdown. Stephen Carr (23 yards on 12 rush attempts) and Vavae Malepeai (44 yards on 10 carries, one TD) handled the running game as Michael Pittman Jr. (four receptions, 107 yards, one TD) and Velus Jones Jr. (three catches, four yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Each squad has a remarkably similar (51-49) run-pass ratio on the season. The Sun Devils have run for 162 yards per game (including 197 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have 12 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Trojans are averaging 117 rushing yards per game (121 in conference) and have 11 total rush TDs.
Judging by the results this season, it’s looking like the Sun Devils could hold an advantage in terms of RB effectiveness, as their running backs has generated 4.7 yards per carry while the defense is allowing 3.7 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Trojans have registered 3.6 yards per carry and given up 4.1 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Sun Devils offensive scheme has averaged 257 yards in the air overall (210 per game against conference opposition) and has 11 passing scores so far. The Trojans have put up 239 pass yards per outing (214.2 against Pac-12 competition) and have nine total pass TDs.
Defensively, Arizona State has allowed 157 rush yards and 224 pass yards per game. The USC D has allowed 228.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 158.7 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Sun Devils have given up an ANY/A of 6.30 to opposing QBs, while the Trojans are yielding an ANY/A of 6.27.
Offensively, Wilkins has amassed 1,577 passing yards this year. He’s completed 134-of-213 attempts with 10 passing scores and only two interceptions. He has a 7.47 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.97 over the last two games.
Eno Benjamin (633 rushing yards, five rush TDs, 197 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns on the year), Frank Darby (224 receiving yards) and N’Keal Harry (510 receiving yards, five TDs) have each played significant roles lately.
In the home locker room, JT Daniels has connected on 106-of-183 passes for 1,346 yards, five TDs and five INTs. Daniels’ ANY/A stands at 5.62 for the season and 4.72 across his past two games.
Michael Pittman Jr. (316 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns this season), Tyler Vaughns (245 receiving yards, one receiving TD) and Vavae Malepeai (198 rush yards, seven rush TDs) have combined to account for 422 total yards and five touchdowns over the last two games.
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Notes
Betting Notes
The USC offense has lost five fumbles this season while Arizona State has lost two.
The Arizona State D has sacked opposing quarterbacks 19 times this year. USC has recorded 18 sacks.
Arizona State has rushed for 5.7 yards per attempt across its past three contests and 3.7 over its last two.
USC has averaged 3.6 yards per carry over its last three games and 2.2 over its past two.
Over its last three matchups, USC is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Arizona State’s previous game was set at 57.5. The under cashed in the team’s 20-13 loss to Stanford.
In its last three contests, Arizona State is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for USC’s last game was 48.5. The over cashed in the 41-28 loss to Utah.
Arizona State has lost five of its last six games SU, with a 28-point victory over Oregon State on September 29th accounting for the only win over that span.
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