Game Time: 2:00 PM ET, Saturday, October 16th, 2021

Venue:  Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah

Where to Watch: ESPN

DraftKings Sportsbook:  Spread: ASU -1; Over/Under:  51 points

Circa:  Spread: Utah -1; Over/Under:  51 points

VegasInsider:  Spread:  PK; Over/Under: 51 points

 

ASU: 5-1, 3-0 conf (Pac-12 South)

Utah: 3-2, 2-0 conf (Pac-12 South)

This is a pick em’ game.  Depending on what book you use you could get a point in either direction. The moneyline odds on betting the game straight up will be -105.  If you look to the point total for your bet, you’ll want to ask if these teams are capable of scoring a combined 51 points or not…. Maybe the better question is are these defenses capable of stopping each other?  Let’s look.

 

 

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RECENT FORM

Arizona State has been winning and winning… though they seem to have trouble against Mormons.  Game 1 was an easy win over the helpless Southern Utah Thunderbirds 41-14.  Game 2 was another easy win over the hapless UNLV 37-10.  Game 3 was the big loss to BYU 27-17, a 10 point loss that derailed perfection to this point.  Game 4 was another easy win over Colorado 35-13.  Game 5 was a program defining win over UCLA 42-23, this more than any other win declared Arizona State legit in the Pac-12.  Game 5 a wonderful win over the Stanford Cardinal, it was wonderful because Stanford had just beaten USC.  Arizona State has all the evidence on paper that they could win the Pac-12 and find themselves in a Rose Bowl if Oregon stumbles.

Utah is not as good.  The lack of a point spread in this game shouldn’t deter you from betting ASU.  Utah got a big win over Weber State 40-17, the takeaway is they allowed Weber State to score 17 in what should have been a bigger blowout.  Game 2 they lost to BYU (so did ASU) 26-17 (almost the exact same score) and this is why the current week 7 game has no spread. Game 3 was an awkward close loss to San Diego State 33-31… it took overtime, but it was a loss.  Game 4 was a win over the awful Washington State 24-13.  Game 5 was a big win over USC (remember, ASU beats the USC beaters) 42-26.

 

The Arizona State offense is ranked 44th in the FBS on offense.  They have scored 26 touchdowns on 441.7 yards per game.

Utah is ranked 71st in FBS on offense.  They have scored 18 touchdowns on 390.6 points per game. 

Both of these teams put up less than 20 points on BYU’s defense.

 

Arizona State is ranked 14th in the FBS on defense.  They have given up a paltry 11 touchdowns on 298 yards per game.  UCLA and BYU are high-powered offenses.  Arizona State held them both to below their season average in both points and yards.

Utah is ranked 41st in the FBS on defense.  They have allowed 13 touchdowns on 340.4 yards per game.  They are playing great defense, but remember Weber State is the high water mark… these Utah stats seem fugazzi.

 

Our prediction for Saturday, October 16th is… ASU 35 - Utah 21

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ASU is 5-10 ATS as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.

ASU is 5-2 ATS off a win against a conference rival, the last 3 seasons.

ASU is 5-2 against the spread when playing a team with a winning record, last 3 seasons.

Utah is 12-5 ATS against conference opponents, the last 3 seasons.

Utah is 12-6 ATS when playing on a Saturday, the last 3 seasons.

Utah is 12-3 ATS  after playing a conference game, the last 3 seasons.

 

ASU:  WR Johnny Wilson (hamstring) Questionable * DL Amiri Johnson (undisclosed) Quest

Utah: S Cole Bishop (undisclosed)  Questionable * DT Viane Moala (undisclosed) Out for season.

ASU: QB Jayden Daniels, RB Rachaad White, TE Curtis Hodges, WR Andre Johnson, WR Johnny Wilson, WR Ricky Pearsall, LT Kellen Diesch, LG LaDarius Henderson, OC Dohnovan West, RG Henry Hattis, RT Ben Scott

Utah: QB Cameron Rising, RB Micah Bernard, TE Brant Kuithe, Wr Theo Howard, WR Solomon Enis, WR Britain Covey, LT Jaren Kump, LG Keaton Bills, OC Nick Ford, RG Sataoa Laumea, RT Braeden Daniels

Sunny.  High of 57* Humidity 52%.  Wind 6 mph.  Its hot chocolate weather from now until April 15th in Salt Lake City…. If only they didn’t frown on hot chocolate.