Pac-12 Week 13: (15) Arizona Wildcats vs Arizona State Sun Devils

The Wildcats have covered six of their last seven games, ASU 5-2-1 ATS after loss to Ducks

November 22, 2023 222 3 minutes readNCAAF Picks & Parlays

Arizona vs Arizona State Football Game: Key Rivalry Preview — Matthew Stockman / Getty Images via AFP

Wildcats
Success Coming
Bettors Have It Right

The Arizona Wildcats (8-3 / 6-2) head to Tempe to take on their in-state rival Arizona State Sun Devils (3-8 / 2-6). The Wildcats still have a shot at a trip to Vegas to play in the Mountain West Conference championship game but need help from the Oregon State Beavers against the second-place and sixth-ranked Oregon Ducks to make that a reality. College Football point spreads this weekend show Arizona as a 10.5-point road favorite with a total of 50. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT and can be seen on ESPN. We start our Arizona vs Arizona State football game prediction preview by breaking down each team from a betting perspective.

The Wildcats Turnaround Almost Complete

This will be the first winning season for the Arizona Wildcats since 2017 under Rich Rodriguez when the ‘Cats put together a 7-6 season. The reality is that it’s been a decade since Arizona had a real winning season (10-4), which coincidentally was the last time they found themselves in a bowl game. Not only have Arizona won games straight-up, but they’ve been terrific against the number with an 8-2 ATS record. This will be their best record against the number in at least 20 years, the furthest our record goes back.

Only two other teams have been better against the number this season, UNLV and New Mexico State—quite the change from a program that was 15-23-1 ATS heading into the year. Arizona leans on quarterback depth that they may not have known they had to begin the year. Noah Fifita became the starter against the Washington Huskies on September 30th after Jayden de Laura suffered an ankle against Stanford.

Wildcat QBs have combined to complete 72.2% of their passes, sixth in the nation. Their 15th ranking is their highest NCAA College Football rankings since an AP ranking of #8 in 2014. We continue our Arizona vs Arizona State football game prediction preview, shifting our focus to the Sun Devils.

You Can See Success Coming

Arizona State will likely lose nine games this NCAAF season, but if they stay within the number, they’ll finish 6-5-1 ATS, which could be a preview of what’s to come. They played USC tough as a 34.5-point underdog, losing 38-24, and then lost to California by three the week after as a 13.5-point dog. They followed that up with a 3-point loss to Colorado and then easily covered 28 points in a 15-7 loss to Washington.

With a few breaks and erasing a horrible opening week loss to Southern Utah as a 34.5-point favorite, SU could be looking at a bowl game with a win this week. Unlike their opponent, the Sun Devils lack a true quarterback to push them over in close games. Their team’s 104.9 QB rating this season is 130th in college football.

Four different QBs have been under center this season, with Trenton Bourguet getting the majority of snaps, but the senior has thrown nine interceptions to go with 13 touchdowns. If Kenny Dillingham finds a quarterback, they’ll cause some trouble next season in the Big 12. We conclude our Arizona vs Arizona State football game prediction preview with our official selection.

Bettors Have It Right

This number opened with the Wildcats as a -12.5-point road favorite, and both the sharps and the public set them straight. The line has dropped down to 10.5, and that’s still good enough for us. The Sun Devils have never been favored against an FBS team this season, so they are very familiar with the oddsmakers not having their back, as is the case this week.

Against the Wildcats, ASU has covered 10 of their last 18 meetings and six of eight as a dog (2-0 AS as a home dog). Since 2009, Arizona State is 5-1 ATS against the Wildcats. We expect special teams to play a massive part in field position for ASU. Take one of this week’s most generous NCAAF odds on the board now with the Sun Devils, but make sure to get that hook even if you have to buy it.

For NCAAF betting news, Arizona vs Arizona State analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.