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The Wyoming Cowboys and Arizona State Sun Devils open their seasons Saturday at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET (FS1). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Wyoming vs. Arizona State odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Cowboys picked up 9 victories in the final year under legendary coach Craig Bohl. He elected to retire, but the program is in good hands under his hand-picked successor, former defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel.
And the former DC-turned-coach has 7 starters back on that side of the ball, including DL Jordan Bertagnole, DB Wyett Ekeler and LB Shae Suiaunoa. If the name sounds familiar, too, Ekeler is the half-brother of NFL star RB Austin Ekeler of the Washington Commanders.
Wyoming is breaking in a new QB Evan Svoboda as he takes the reins from Andrew Peasley. That likely means, at least early on, there will be a heavy dose of RB Harrison Waylee, the top returning player on offense.
For Arizona State, it moves to the Big 12, and this is the 1st official game as a member of that conference, although not a league game.
Sparky won just 3 games a season ago, and just 2 against FBS opponents. The defense allowed 49 or more points in the final 3 games, including to Arizona and Utah, which have moved over with AZ State to the Pac-12.
To make matters worse, QB Jaden Rashada, of NIL fame, bolted for greener pastures at Georgia, where he is projected as QB3. That likely means a 2-headed QB situation early in the season, with former Michigan State QB Sam Leavitt and Trenton Bourguet seeing reps.
RB Cam Skattebo not only has one of the best names ever for a running back, but he is pretty good, too. WR Jordyn Tyson was discarded by Deion Sanders at Colorado, but he is a talented receiver with pop who will help whomever is under center.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
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Wyoming at Arizona State odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Wyoming +202 (bet $100 to win $202) | Arizona State -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Wyoming +7.5 (-124) | Arizona State -7.5 (+102)
- Over/Under (O/U): 48.5 (O: -106 | U: -114)
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Wyoming at Arizona State picks and predictions
Prediction
Arizona State 24, Wyoming 20
Moneyline
Arizona State (-250) will cost you 2½ times your potential return, and that’s way too risky for not nearly enough reward.
Even as part of a multi-leg parlay, including Sparky is much too risky considering the fact Wyoming (+202) was a bowl team a season ago, while AZ State managed just 2 wins against FBS foes. If this matchup was in Laramie, the Sun Devils likely would be underdogs.
PASS.
Against the spread
Back WYOMING +7.5 (-124), and shop around to make sure you get the hook. Some books are only offering a flat 7.
Arizona State -7.5 (+102) failed to cash last season in its only game as a favorite and is 1-3 ATS in the past 4 as a favorite since blasting rival Arizona as a 20-point favorite in the regular-season finale Nov. 27, 2021.
The Cowboys have actually won in the state of Arizona more recently than the Sun Devils, as Wyoming edged Toledo 16-15 in the Arizona Bowl Dec. 30, 2023, whereas Arizona State’s most recent win in its home state came Oct. 28, 2023, against Washington State.
Over/Under
The UNDER 48.5 (-114) is a strong play. The total varies by as much as a point to a point and a half, so be careful shopping around here, too.
We have a new QB at Wyoming, so expect more of a ground-based attack. That always favors the Under bettor. And, for Arizona State, we have a potential 2-QB system and a new coaching system, with the best offensive player being Skattebo, the tailback. Sparky might also have a run-heavy offense, at least to start. That’s great news for a potential lower-scoring game.
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