Arizona St vs Stanford NCAA Football Odds
The Arizona State Sun Devils and the Stanford Cardinal are set to open their Pac-12 seasons against one another on Saturday, Sept. 21 in a matchup featuring two ranked teams. No. 23 ASU will travel to the state of California to take on the No. 5 Cardinal.
No. 23 Arizona State (2-0) @ No. 5 Stanford (2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 21, 7:00 PM ET @ Stanford Stadium
Moneyline: Arizona State +245, Stanford -290
Spread: Stanford -7.5
O/U: 50
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Stanford enters this game having won eight of its last 10 battles against ranked challengers.
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Arizona State, however, has momentum on its side, as it is coming off of a controversial win over the Wisconsin Badgers.
Arizona State
Arizona State will bring a lot of speed to the field Saturday—speed that Stanford hasn’t seen during its schedule thus far. Stanford’s defense plays with a physicality unmatched in the Pac-12, but if the Sun Devils can get their athletes out in space, it will create mismatches against a team that prides itself on physically empowering its opponents.
The offense starts with Tyler Kelly, as he’ll make plays both through the air and on the ground. He’s been good enough behind center to get the team to 358.5 passing yards per game, which is a big reason the team is boasting a 43.5-points-per-contest average at this time.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Sun Devils have looked good. They’re allowing just 15 points per game through two games, but a big part of that is credited to shutting out the less-than-imposing Sacramento State Hornets. Stanford will do what it can to run the ball down this team’s throats, and in doing so, it will open up the play-action pass. Will Sutton will have to step up and have his best game of the year, as the Cardinal are no slouches on offense. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Stanford
Speaking of Stanford’s offense, watching Kevin Hogan should be one of the highlights of this game. He’s a threat every time he steps on the field, and he’s a big reason the team is averaging 34 points per contest. Also look for Tyler Gaffney to continue playing well at the running back position.
But while the offense will do its damage, this team prides itself on defense. It is allowing just 16.5 points per game, and with the Sun Devils being the most potent offense it’s seen thus far, the defensive unit will be up to the challenge.
ASU may bring speed to the table, but the truth is that the Cardinal have a combination of speed and strength that will test the Sun Devils. Arizona State is averaging 358.5 yards per game through the air, but Stanford is allowing just 132.5 in that same category. Something has to give when these two face off, and luckily for Stanford, it has home-field advantage on its side.
The Cardinal are favored by more than a touchdown, but it’s important to note that they are just 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games against ASU. The last time the two squads faced off was 2010 when the Sun Devils were a far different team, and with Arizona State having improved since then, Stanford will be kicking off its conference play against a true contender in the South Division.
Give Stanford the edge straight up in this one, but don’t be shocked if Arizona State keeps it close when it’s all said and done.
Score Prediction: Stanford 33 – Arizona State 27
