The Arizona State Sun Devils (-1.5) aren’t traveling far to face their conference counterpart Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. FS1 will televise the action and kickoff will take place at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Arizona Wildcats vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona is entering this Pac-12 game as the underdog and is currently getting 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, and if one team can create a bunch of points early on, it will likely produce a worthy live betting opportunity.
After the game’s O/U was initially set at 63, the the early action has apparently moved to the over.
The Sun Devils are 7-4 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 1.2 units so far in 2018. The team has 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 are 6-5 straight up (SU), including 4-4 SU against conference opponents. The Wildcats are 5-6 SU overall and are also 4-4 SU in conference play.
The Sun Devils fell to Oregon 31-29 in a nailbiter where their defense allowed the Ducks to eat up the clock by running for 187 yards on 41 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. CJ Verdell had a good day for the opposition in that one with 70 rushing yards and a score on 14 attempts, along with 40 yards and a score on four catches. On the offense, Manny Wilkins completed just 15-of-32 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Eno Benjamin (149 yards on 29 rush attempts) led the running attack in the loss. N’Keal Harry (seven receptions, 105 yards) and Kyle Williams (three catches, 20 yards) shared the receiving duties.
Arizona just lost convincingly 69-28 to Washington State. The team’s defense let the Cougars pass for 482 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 123 yards and two scores. Davontavean Martin had a good outing, posting 124 yards and a score on seven catches for Washington State. 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) mounted the ground attack in the defeat while Shun Brown (eight receptions, 37 yards, one TD) and DeVaughn Cooper (three catches, 97 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Each team has a remarkably similar (56-44) run-pass ratio on the season. The Sun Devils have produced 190.2 rush yards per game (including 218.3 per game versus Pac-12 opponents) and have 21 scores via handoffs this year. The Wildcats are logging 199.2 rush yards per game (205.5 in conference) and have 13 total rushing TDs.
The Sun Devils offense has logged 239.2 yards per game in the air overall (209.1 per game against conference opposition) and has 18 passing scores so far. The Wildcats have produced 252.8 pass yards per outing (231 in the Pac-12) and have 26 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Arizona State seems to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 156.3 yards and throw for 234.7 yards per game. The Arizona defense has allowed 269.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 164.9 yards per game to opposing runners. The Sun Devils are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.36 to opposing QBs, while the Wildcats have given up a 7.04 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Wilkins is up to 2,432 yards this season, and has connected on 194-of-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 outings.
Eno Benjamin, N’Keal Harry and Kyle Williams have collectively accounted for 623 yards from scrimmage over the last couple of outings.
Khalil Tate has managed to complete 132-of-241 passes for 1,898 yards, 18 TDs and six INTs for Arizona. His ANY/A sits at 7.59 for the season and 12.11 across his last 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 past couple of games.
When these two schools met last year, Arizona State emerged victorious by a final score of 42-30.
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Arizona Wildcats Betting Pick
SU Winner: Arizona State, ATS Winner: Arizona State, O/U: Over
Betting Trends
- The Arizona offense has lost eight fumbles this season while Arizona State has lost four.
- The Arizona State defense has 27 sacks on the year while Arizona has 23.
- Arizona State has produced 4.5 yards per carry across its last three games and 4.2 over its last two.
- Arizona has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.1 over its past two.
- Over its last three contests, Arizona is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Arizona State’s last game going into it was 66. The under cashed in the team’s 31-29 defeat to Oregon.
- Over its last three contests, Arizona State is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Arizona’s last matchup was set at 63. The over cashed in that 69-28 defeat to Washington State.
