Rival programs trending in opposite directions are set to meet on Saturday. The Arizona State Sun Devils had to Pullman, Washington, to pay a visit to the Washington State Cougars. Continue reading below to get our best Arizona State vs Washington State bets and much more.
While the ncaaf standings show the two teams are out of Pac-12 championship contention, there is still bowl eligibility to play for each program.
The “something to play for” factor is still intact, so that rules out one strategy prior to placing Arizona State vs Washington State bets.
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Washington State Cougars
Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium as Arizona State (3-6, 2-4 Pac-12) needs to win out to maintain bowl eligibility.
Meanwhile, a win for Washington State (5-4, 2-4) will grant them postseason access, becoming the seventh team in the league to do so. The game will be aired on the Pac-12 Network.
NCAAF matchups show the Sun Devils lead the all-time series. Arizona State has won 28 games, while Washington State has 16 wins in the regular season. However, Washington State has won three of the last four meetings.
Last Game Record
Arizona State Last Game Record
The Arizona State schedule hasn’t been kind, as the Sun Devils even lost to Mid-American Conference school Eastern Michigan in the nonconference season.
Though their offense has played better of late, as they showed in a 50-36 loss to UCLA last week. They gained 349 yards passing behind the arm of Trenton Bourguet, who threw for two touchdowns.
Running back Xazavian Vallady rushed for two touchdowns and 92 yards. But they couldn’t stop the run as the Bruins rushed for 402 yards.
Washington State Last Game Record
The ncaaf schedule was kind to the Cougars, who won their first three games, including at Wisconsin, and four of their first five.
But since then, there have been tougher times, losing three of their last four games. But that win was last time out, 52-14, against Stanford.
The Cougars rushed for 306 yards, with Nakia Watson gaining 166 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Cameron Ward threw for 176 yards and two touchdowns, too.
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Washington State Cougars Analysis
Arizona State’s poor start led to the firing of Herm Edwards, who potentially put the program in front of NCAA sanctions.
Stepping in was interim coach Shaun Aguano, who hasn’t been able to steer the ship, as well as Jake Dickert, did to land the Washington State job after last season.
Arizona State Offense
NCAA football stats show the Arizona State offense is 74th in scoring at 28.1 points per game and 70th in total offense at 388.9 yards per game.
They do fare well through the air, ranking 46th in passing at 257 yards passing per game. Bourget has had a solid season, throwing for 966 yards and completing 75.2% of his passes with eight touchdowns to three interceptions in three games, replacing starter Emory Jones.
Sun Devils’ Defense
Defensively has been a struggle though. The Sun Devils rank 107th in allowing 31.1 points per game and 102nd in allowing 421 yards of offense per game.
They do have 10 takeaways, ranking 33rd, though. If they can generate turnovers, they should be able to give their offense opportunities to score, and they can do just that.
The Sun Devils are 4-5 against the spread and on over/unders this season. They are 1-3 straight up on the road this fall.
Washington State’s Defense
Washington State picks have been fairly profitable this season. The Cougars are 6-3 against the spread but only 2-7 on over/unders because of their strong defense. They are 3-2 straight up at home this year.
There is room for Washington State to grow offensively. Cameron Ward has been solid at quarterback after transferring from Incarnate Word.
The Cougars are 80th in scoring at 26.8 points per game and 84th in total yardage at 373.1 yards of offense per game. They are 42nd passing at 263.6 yards passing per game.
Ward is completing 64.1% of his passes while throwing for 2,340 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
He’s also rushed for just 45 yards but three touchdowns, tied for a team-high with Watson (491 rushing yards).
Defensively, the Cougars are 23rd in holding teams to 20 points per game and 46th in total defense, limiting teams to 361.4 yards per game.
Saturday’s Challenge
Saturday’s challenge will be if the pass defense can hold up. Washington State ranks 83rd against the pass, allowing 238.6 yards per game, compared to 32nd against the run (122.9 yards per game).
Before checking out the NCAAF odds and making Arizona State vs Washington State bets, here’s a look at recent history:
The home team is 8-2 against the spread in the last 10 meetings; the Sun Devils are 1-4 against the spread in their last five meetings at Washington State, and the Sun Devils are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven meetings regardless of location.
Odds Breakdown
- Arizona State Sun Devils
The Sun Devils are eight-point underdogs at -110 odds. They are +250 on the moneyline. The over is at 59.5 points with -110 odds.
- Washington State Cougars
The Cougars are favored by eight points at -110 odds. They are -315 on the moneline. The under is at 59.5 points with -110 odds.
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Washington State Cougars Betting Pick and Prediction
There aren’t major college football injuries impacting this game. There’s a good enough snapshot of what each team brings to the table that should give people a pretty good idea of what to expect.
The keys to watch are simple: Can Washington State’s pass defense limit Arizona State’s potent passing game? Which team takes care of the ball the best? Who will be the most balanced offensively?
Who to Bet On?
One last fact to consider is Washington State has not been favored by eight points this season, but are 2-0 when favored by 0.5 to 6.5 points and are 1-0 when favored by 14 to 20.5 points.
Arizona State is an underdog of 7 to 13.5 points for the fourth time this season. The Sun Devils are 1-2 overall and 0-1 on the road in those scenarios.
Here are our Arizona State vs Washington State bets:
- Pick 1: Washington State -8.5 (-110) It’s hard to pick the Cougars to cover by this much, but they’ve handled a challenging schedule well. The backup is to take the moneyline, too.
- Pick 2: Under 59.5 (-115) The Washington State defense shouldn’t allow this game to get out of hand.
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