Two weeks ago the Sun Devils were left for dead following a thrashing by USC. Many were wondering if Arizona State was even bowl-worthy after dropping to 2-2 with a four-touchdown loss at home after a shaky start to the year. ASU is back after upsetting UCLA as a 12.5-point underdog, and it didn’t feel like an upset either. The Sun Devils will try to avoid a letdown against the Pac-12 doormat Colorado, entering the game as a two-touchdown favorite to knock off the Buffs.
ODDS
Arizona State opened as a 14-point favorite with the total at 55.5. Last week’s road win over UCLA has folks back on the ASU bandwagon with the spread wagered to 14.5. ASU is 5-1 ATS in its last six against Colorado. Both teams have put money in the pockets of under bettors this season. ASU has cashed the under in all five games while the Buffs are 4-1 on the under.
KEY MISMATCH
The most consistent and reliable position group for the Sun Devils in their up and down season has been the defensive line. The success of the group hasn’t come against weak competition either. The defensive front has cut its teeth against talented running backs like Texas AM’s Tra Carson, USC’s Tre Madden, and UCLA’s Paul Perkins. All three are legitimate NFL prospects and did little against the Sun Devils D-line. Tackle Demetrius Cherry has specialized detecting zone blocking schemes and not allowing double teams to get up the field, which leaves linebacker Salamo Fiso open to take on the ball carrier. The interior linemen have made life easier for everyone around them in defending the run. Colorado’s offensive line was under siege last week against Oregon and may not be able to hold up against ASU’s pass rush. With limited numbers needed to get to Buffs’ quarterback Sefo Liufau, the ASU defense could be swarming Colorado on Saturday night.
KEY STAT
+3 – Colorado’s turnover margin. The Buffs are fourth in the Pac-12 and could be thinking upset if they win the turnover battle against the Sun Devils, who are tied with a conference-high 10 giveaways and last with a minus-three turnover margin.
BETTING ANGLE
Through four weeks, Arizona State might have been the most confounding team in the Pac-12. Not once during that 2-2 stretch did the Sun Devils resemble the championship caliber team coach Todd Graham thought he had going into the season. Instead of trying to install wholesale changes, ASU trusted the process. A process, by the way, that led to back-to-back 10-win seasons and established the Sun Devils as a rising power. In last week’s 38-23 win over then-No. 7 UCLA, the process proved reliable once again. While Colorado remains a team ASU should expect to beat, these Buffs aren’t the same version that the league has dominated the past few seasons. At some point, Colorado is going to surprise someone, and with the way the season has started, it’s hard to name any team that might be immune from such a result.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Arizona State might have been the most overrated team in the Pac-12 when the season began, coming in as the 15th-ranked team in the country. The Sun Devils were handled easily by Texas AM in the opener, dropping them from the rankings. A closer than expected win over lower-division Cal Poly the next week didn’t give the faithful much to be excited about. Last week’s win over UCLA was big, but remember the Bruins were short four standout defenders in that game and were not the seventh-best team in the country without them. Colorado is closing the gap but will still take its lumps this season. The Sun Devils are next in line to administer them, but the Buffs keep it close and cover.
Arizona State 32, Colorado 23
The college football odds for this game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The Sun Devils were pegged as 14-point chalk while the total opened at 55.5. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The game between the Colorado Buffaloes and Arizona State Sun Devils will start at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 10, 2015, at Sun Devil Stadium. The contest will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Network.
