LINE Arizona -3.5
ATS PICK Arizona
I obviously work in the college football space so I’m not supposed to say it, but … sometimes the whole rivalry thing is a flaming bag of overrated hoo-ha.
Rivalries might focus teams a little more because of what’s at stake, and the fans certainly care a whole lot about coming up with the win over their annoying friends and acquaintances, but it’s still about who can block and tackle better.
Arizona is better than Arizona State this season – and if there’s the demon of a 70-7 loss a few years ago in the equation, that matters, too.
That’s what happened the last time Arizona State came to Tucson. It was 70-7, and only because Arizona State didn’t want it to be 84-7, or even worse. If it’s possible to win by 63 and show mercy, ASU did it, Sun Devil fans, though, are more than happy to keep bringing that up as a part of the five game losing streak.
Arizona had turnover issues in last week’s 31-20 loss last week to Washington State, but it’s playing better overall. If the offense gets going like it’s supposed to, winning this shouldn’t be a problem against an ASU defense that’s been hammered on by everyone but Stanford.
Outside of the 15-14 loss to the Cardinal, the other eight Sun Devil defeats were by nine or more.
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