A couple of teams that like running the football, Head Coach Kyle Whittingham and the No. 16 Utah Utes (-7) are gearing up to face off against their Pac-12 foe Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium, Frank Kush Field. This critical daytime game is scheduled to kick off at 4:00 p.m. ET and interested parties can tune in to the action on Pac-12 Networks.
Utah Utes at Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Preview
In this Saturday Pac-12 game, Utah is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 7 points. In order to take the favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently have to wager $300 to net $100 back on the Utes (-300). The Sun Devils are getting +220 moneyline odds. Should one side can create a bunch of points early on it would generate a solid betting opportunity in-game. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 52 points.
The surprising Utes have gained 3.5 units so far in 2018 and are 5-3 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 3-4. The Sun Devils have lost 1.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 5-3 ATS and have an even O/U record of 4-4.
The Utes have gone 6-2 straight up (SU), including 4-2 SU against Pac-12 opponents. The Sun Devils are 4-4 SU overall and are also 2-3 SU in conference play.
The Utes are coming off a resounding 41-10 victory over UCLA last week. Tyler Huntley completed 13-of-21 passes for only 138 yards and one interception. Zack Moss (211 yards on 26 rush attempts, three TDs) led the running attack in the win. Britain Covey (five receptions, 47 yards) and Jaylen Dixon (two catches, 24 yards) shared the receiving duties.
The Arizona State Sun Devils just picked up a 38-35 win over USC. The team’s defensive unit let the Trojans rush for 149 yards on 33 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Michael Pittman Jr. had a good showing in the loss, recording 90 yards and two touchdowns on six catches for USC. For Arizona State, Manny Wilkins completed 14-of-22 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown. Eno Benjamin (185 yards on 29 rush attempts, two TDs) and the signal-caller Wilkins (89 yards on nine carries, one TD) led the ground game in the win as N’Keal Harry (four receptions, 95 yards, one TD) and Frank Darby (four catches, 26 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Utah has run the ball on 60.1 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 63.4 percent across possessions in conference play. Arizona State has an overall run percentage of 52.4 percent, and has rushed the ball 58.3 percent of the time against Pac-12 opponents. The Utes have rushed for 205 yards per game (including 217 per game versus Pac-12 opponents) and have 16 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Sun Devils are putting up 177 rush yards per game (214 in conference) and have 15 total rushing TDs.
The Utes offense has logged 226 yards per contest in the air overall (201 per game against conference opposition) and has 13 passing TDs so far. The Sun Devils have produced 246 pass yards per game (201.4 in the Pac-12) and have 12 total pass scores.
Defensively, Utah seems to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has let opponents run for an average of 81 yards and pass for 206 yards per game. The Arizona State defense has allowed 229.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 156.3 yards per game to opposing runners. The Utes are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.08 to opposing QBs, while the Sun Devils have given up a 6.76 ANY/A.
Offensively, Huntley has amassed 1,359 passing yards on the year. The signal-caller has completed 121-of-190 attempts with seven scores through the air and four interceptions. Huntley’s got a 5.97 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 8.63 over the past two outings.
In the other locker room, Manny Wilkins has managed to complete 134-of-210 passes for 1,612 yards, 12 TDs and one INT. Wilkins’ ANY/A stands at 8.17 for the year and 7.07 across his last two games.
These two schools faced off last year with the final result being a 30-10 victory for Arizona State.
RELATED: Week 10 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Pick: Utah Utes at Arizona State Sun Devils
SU Winner – Utah, ATS Winner – Utah, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
The O/U for Utah’s last game was 54. The under cashed in the team’s 41-10 victory over UCLA.
Utah has produced 5.1 yards per carry across its past three contests and 5.2 over its last two.
Arizona State has averaged 4.8 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 5.5 over its past two.
Arizona State has lost three fumbles this season while Utah has let nine get away.
Over its last three games, Utah is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Arizona State’s last match going into it was 54. The over cashed in the 38-35 triumph over USC.
Over its last three contests, Arizona State is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Both passing attacks have produced eight pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Utes have have made 11 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Sun Devils have accounted for 13 such plays.
The Utah defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Arizona State has given up three such plays.
The Utah offense has created 15 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Arizona State has created 11 such runs.
The Utes defense has allowed four rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Sun Devils have given up eight such runs.
Each team defense has tallied 21 sacks this year.
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