NCAA Football Betting – Arizona State Sun Devils at USC Trojans
The Arizona State Sun Devils (2-3 SU, 1-3 ATS) are trying to break a three-game losing streak, but they’re going to have a hard time doing it, as they face off against the USC Trojans (3-1 SU & ATS) in NCAA college football action that is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 PM ET at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (natural turf).
Saturday, October 11
BetUS NCAAF Betting Odds: USC -27.5, Total 46.5
Here are some of the NCAA football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* ASU has won 12 of its last 18 games SU
* ASU has lost four of its last six games SU
* ASU has covered one of its last six road games
* ASU has played its last six road games UNDER the total
* USC has covered four of its last five games
* USC has won eight of its last nine games SU
* USC has played 12 of its last 15 games UNDER the total
Also….
* USC has covered six of the last eight meetings
* USC has won the last eight meetings SU
* Four of the last six meetings have gone UNDER the total
* USC has covered four of the last six meetings as the home team
* USC has won five of the last six meetings SU as the home team
Rudy Carpenter suffered an ankle injury last week in ASU’s loss to California, and that has put his status in jeopardy for this one, which is unfortunate for coach Dennis Erickson, since Carpenter had been a model of durability prior to this, having made 36 consecutive starts. This is not the time to not have Carpenter’s services, as the USC Trojans, who see a path to the national title game again after many of the country’s top teams were, like them, knocked off, want to gain as much ground in the national polls as possible.
Carpenter’s understudy, Danny Sullivan, is not an adequate replacement. Even though Sullivan got some playing time in last year’s Holiday Bowl, he has only thrown eight passes, in the season opener, and completed one. The truly bad news is that SOMEBODY had better throw the ball with some efficiency against USC, because only six teams have a worse ground game than Arizona State (statistically speaking). The Trojan defense leads the nation in tackles for loss and is ninth in sacks. Seeing as the ASU offensive front has not been able to keep Carpenter from running for his life, That only bodes worse for Sullivan, who is essentially a pocket passer.
Trojan quarterback Mark Sanchez is not without some injury concerns of his won. Sanchez, who sustained a bone bruise in his left knee in the win over Oregon, is more likely to play than Carpenter, and even if he can’t go, Mitch Mustain, the transfer from Arkansas, is considered by many to be a more talented quarterback, and should be able to fill in ably.
You might think that points us toward USC, but we’re going to look at the total here. Whoever Arizona State uses at quarterback, they are going to struggle on offense, just as have been, One can visualize the USC front seven, or various parts of it, being in the Sun Devil backfield the entire game. Sullivan may not be able to move them an inch. Both teams are trending under (ASU has played six straight road games under the number, while USC has gone that way in 12 of its last 15 overall). This is a lot of points to lay, but we’re more comfortable moving UNDER the total of 46.5 points, as it is posted in the BetUS NCAA college football betting odds.
