The Stanford Cardinal (-2.5) and Arizona State Sun Devils will go head-to-head on the grass at Sun Devil Stadium, Frank Kush Field. ESPN is scheduled to have the TV rights and this crucial conference game kicks off at 9:00 p.m. ET. When these two schools met a year ago, Stanford got the victory 34-24.
Stanford Cardinal vs. Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Preview
In this Thursday Pac-12 game, Stanford is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 2.5 points. The Cardinal are also receiving -140 moneyline odds while the Sun Devils are +120. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 54 points. Should Stanford falls down in the early stages, it would likely create a nice betting opportunity in-game.
With the spread opening at 2 and the O/U originally set at 53.5, bookmakers have shifted the odds a little.
The Cardinal are 3-3 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 0.1 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an O/U record of 3-2. The Sun Devils have lost 1.6 units this season. The team is 4-2 ATS and owns an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Cardinal are 4-2 straight up (SU), including 2-1 SU against conference opponents. The Sun Devils are 3-3 SU overall and 1-2 SU in conference play.
The Cardinal are trying to get back in stride after a 40-21 defeat to Utah on October 6Their defense allowed the Utes to run for 222 yards on 43 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Zack Moss shredded the defense in that one with 160 rushing yards and both touchdowns on 20 attempts. On the offensive side of the ball, K.J. Costello completed 26-of-41 passes for 381 yards, one score and two interceptions. Trevor Speights (just 56 rushing yards on 17 attempts, one TD) provided the running attack while Kaden Smith (eight receptions, 120 yards) and JJ Arcega-Whiteside (eight catches, 103 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Back on October 6, Colorado took care of this Arizona State crew by a score of 28-21. The Sun Devils defensive unit allowed the Buffaloes to pass for 328 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 166 yards and two scores. Laviska Shenault Jr. had a productive outing in the win, recording two rushing touchdowns to go along with 127 yards and two touchdowns on 13 catches for Colorado. For Arizona State, Manny Wilkins completed 12-of-18 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown. Eno Benjamin (120 rushing yards on 28 attempts, two TDs) led the running game as N’Keal Harry (three receptions, 62 yards) and Frank Darby (three catches, 131 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Stanford has run the ball on 47.0 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Arizona State has a rush percentage of 53.5 percent. The Cardinal have run for 86 yards/game (including 91 per game versus Pac-12 opponents) and have six scores on the ground this year. The Sun Devils are logging 175 rush yards per game (235 in conference) and have 11 total rushing TDs.
If 2018 numbers are any indication, then it appears the Sun Devils may own the advantage in terms of RB efficiency. Their backfield has logged 4.9 yards per carry while their defense has allowed a YPC of 3.8 to opponents. The Cardinal have registered 3.1 yards per carry while allowing 4.1 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Cardinal offense has averaged 269 yards through the air overall (297 per game against conference opposition) and has 12 passing scores so far. The Sun Devils have produced 241 pass yards per outing (162.7 in the Pac-12) and have 11 total pass TDs.
Stanford has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 164 yards and pass for 235 yards per game. The Arizona State D has allowed 222.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 162.3 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Cardinal have given up an ANY/A of 5.78 to opposing QBs, while the Sun Devils are yielding an ANY/A of 6.04.
Offensively, Costello has put up 1,437 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 99-of-155 attempts with 11 passing scores and five interceptions. He has an 8.41 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 5.25 over the last two outings.
In the home locker room, Manny Wilkins has connected on 106-of-163 passes for 1,284 yards, eight TDs and one INT. Wilkins’ ANY/A stands at 8.02 for the season and 10.07 across his last two games.
RELATED: Week 8 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Pick: Stanford Cardinal vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
SU Winner – Stanford, ATS Winner – Stanford, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Over/Under for Stanford’s previous game was set at 44.5. The over cashed in the team’s 40-21 loss to Utah.
Stanford has rushed for 2.2 yards per attempt across its last three games and 1.9 over its last two.
Arizona State has averaged 5.6 yards per carry over its last three outings and 6.2 over its last two.
Arizona State has lost one fumble this season while Stanford has let two get away.
In its last three contests, Stanford is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
The Over/Under for Arizona State’s last matchup going into it was 64. The under cashed in the 28-21 defeat to Colorado.
Over its last three contests, Arizona State is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Cardinal offense has recorded five pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Sun Devils have put up six such plays.
The Stanford defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Arizona State has given up two such plays.
The Stanford offense has created five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Arizona State has created nine such runs.
The Cardinal defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Sun Devils have given up five such runs.
The Arizona State D has notched 18 sacks on the year while Stanford has 15.
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