A couple of teams that like to run the football, Head Coach Herm Edwards and the Arizona State Sun Devils (-1.5) are set to take on the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. This conference matchup kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET and FS1 is in line to televise the action.
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Arizona Wildcats Betting Preview
In this Saturday Pac-12 matchup, Arizona State is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 1.5 points. The Sun Devils are also receiving -120 moneyline odds while the Wildcats are +100. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 65 points. Should one team can get out in front early, it will probably create a nice in-game betting opportunity.
This game’s total was placed originally at 63, but the over is getting the majority of the early sharp action.
The Sun Devils have gained 1.2 units so far in 2018 and are 7-4 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 5-6. The Wildcats have lost 4.0 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 6-5 ATS and have an O/U record of 3-7.
The Sun Devils have gone 6-5 straight up (SU), including 4-4 SU against Pac-12 opponents. The Wildcats are 5-6 SU overall and are also 4-4 SU in conference play.
When these two schools faced each other last year, Arizona State got the victory 42-30.
The Sun Devils hope to bounce back after a 31-29 defeat to Oregon last week where Manny Wilkins completed only 15 passes on 32 attempts for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Eno Benjamin (149 rushing yards on 29 attempts) led the running attack. N’Keal Harry (seven receptions, 105 yards) and Kyle Williams (three catches, 20 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Arizona just lost convincingly 69-28 to Washington State. The defense allowed the Cougars to pass for 482 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 123 yards and two scores. Davontavean Martin had a solid showing in the win for Washington State, recording 124 yards and a score on seven catches. For Arizona, Khalil Tate completed 18-of-30 passes for 294 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. J.J. Taylor (69 rushing yards on 20 attempts) handled the running attack while Shun Brown (eight receptions, 37 yards, one TD) and DeVaughn Cooper (three catches, 97 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
In terms of offensive play-calling, each squad sports a similar (56-44) run-pass ratio on the season. The Sun Devils have rushed for 190 yards per game (including 218 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have 21 scores on the ground this year. The Wildcats are logging 199 rush yards per game (206 in conference) and have 13 total rushing TDs.
The Sun Devils offense has averaged 239 yards through the air overall (209 per game versus conference opposition) and has 18 passing TDs so far. The Wildcats have recorded 253 pass yards per contest (230.6 against Pac-12 foes) and have 26 total pass scores.
Defensively, Arizona State should have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has let opponents run for an average of 156 yards and pass for 235 yards per game. The Arizona D has allowed 269.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 164.9 yards per game on the ground. The Sun Devils are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.36 to opposing QBs, while the Wildcats have allowed a 7.04 ANY/A.
Offensively, Wilkins is up to 2,432 passing yards on the year, and has completed 63 percent of his 309 attempts with 17 passing scores and only three interceptions. Wilkins has a 7.93 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 6.10 over the last two games.
As a group, Eno Benjamin, N’Keal Harry and Kyle Williams have combined for 623 total yards over the last couple of outings.
Khalil Tate has completed 132-of-241 passes for 1,898 yards, 18 TDs and six INTs for Arizona. His ANY/A stands at 7.59 for the year and 12.11 over his past two games.
J.J. Taylor (1,098 rushing yards, six rush TDs on the year), DeVaughn Cooper (305 receiving yards) and Cedric Peterson (193 receiving yards, three receiving TDs) have combined to account for 544 total yards over the last two games.
RELATED: Week 13 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Tip: Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Arizona Wildcats
SU Winner – Arizona State, ATS Winner – Arizona State, O/U – Over
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The O/U for Arizona State’s last game was set at 66. The under cashed in the team’s 31-29 defeat to Oregon.
Arizona State has rushed for 4.5 yards per attempt over its last three contests and 4.2 over its last two.
Arizona has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last three matchups and only 4.1 over its last two.
Arizona has lost eight fumbles this season while Arizona State has lost four.
Over its last three games, Arizona State is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Arizona’s previous matchup was set at 63. The over cashed in the team’s 69-28 loss to Washington State.
In its last three matches, Arizona is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Sun Devils offense has tallied nine pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Wildcats have put up 11 such plays.
The Arizona State defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Arizona has given up seven such plays.
Both defenses have produced 17 rushing plays of 20 yards or more. The Arizona State offense has recorded 64 running plays of 10+ yards while Arizona has accounted for 59 such plays.
The Sun Devils defense has allowed 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Wildcats have given up 18 such runs.
The Arizona State defense has sacked opposing QBs 27 times this year. Arizona has registered 23 sacks.
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