Utah
vs.
Arizona State
College Football Pick
11/10/16
The Pac 12 heats up this Thursday night in the desert with Arizona State hosting 16th ranked Utah. The Utes are coming off a loss, but they still have their destiny in their hands. They only trail Colorado, who they face in the season finale on the road, in Pac 12 South play and if they win out they will win the division and play in the Conference title Game.
Arizona State has stumbled losing 3 in a row and in those Games their D struggled, big time, giving up 40 points, 37 points, and 54 points. They only need one more win to become bowl eligible and after this Game they face undefeated Washington and then end the season against Arizona, who is currently winless in Pac 12 play. The Sun Devils have a good offense, but their defense only ranks 115th out of 128 FBS teams giving up an average of 36.6 ppg.
At home last season Utah beat ASU 34-18 covering the spread as a 4.5-point favorite.
Utah lost their 2nd Game of the season in their last Game losing to Washington at home 31-24, but they did cover as a 10-point underdog.
ASU lost their 3rd in a row in their last Game losing badly on the road to Oregon 54-35 where they did not cover the spread as a 10-point underdog.
Utah played a pretty good Game almost handing Washington their first win of the season. They held the Huskies to 385 total yards and while they did not have a big passing Game they rushed for 213 yards. Joe Williams rushed for 172 yards in the Game and that was his lowest output in his last three Games. Troy Williams passed for 163 yards with 2 TD and 0 INT, but was only 14/31.
The Utes strength on offense is running the ball with Williams, but they may want to rethink that in this Game. ASU ranks dead last in the FBS in pass defense while their run D is solid ranking 16th.
In their loss to Oregon the Sun Devils forgot how to play defense giving up 734 yards (439 passing yards 245 rushing yards). QB Dillon Sterling-Cole passed for over 300 yards with a TD, but he was picked off 3 times. ASU’s strength is the passing attack, but they need to establish the run to take the pressure off the QB. Utah has a solid and balanced defense that ranks 20th in the nation defending the pass and 31st defending the run.
Utah is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Games overall, 11-5 ATS in their last 16 road Games, and in their last 9 road Games the posted total has gone Over 7 times.
ASU is 8-0 ATS in their last 8 home Games, 9-4 ATS in their last 13 Games overall, and in their last 7 home Games the posted total has gone Over 5 times.
Our Pick – Arizona State +6