The Arizona State Sun Devils (9-2) won a wild game against BYU last weekend, potentially putting them in the Big 12 Championship with a win.
In many scenarios, the Sun Devils face varied opponents with a win, but a loss would knock them out unless chaos occurs.
Meanwhile, it’s been a tough season to be an Arizona Wildcats fan, as the luster of the matchup is dull. The Cats are 4-7 on the year and cannot make a bowl.
Oddsmakers have the Sun Devils as 9-point favorites, which has steamed up as the week has gone on. The total sits at 53.5.
Read on for my Arizona State vs Arizona predictions and college football picks.
Arizona State vs Arizona Prediction
- Arizona State vs Arizona Pick: Arizona +9
My Arizona State vs Arizona best bet is on the Sun Devils to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at bet365, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Arizona State vs Arizona Odds
| Arizona State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9 -110 | 53.5 -110 / -110 | -320 |
| Arizona Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9 -110 | 53.5 -110 / -110 | +260 |
- Arizona State vs Arizona Point Spread: Arizona State -9 (-110) · Arizona +9 (-110)
- Arizona State vs Arizona Total: Over/Under 53.5
- Arizona State vs Arizona Moneyline: Arizona State -320 · Arizona +260
Arizona State vs Arizona Preview
Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Preview: A Win Away
Head coach Kenny Dillingham blew his top off at officials on Saturday afternoon when he thought his team had officially clinched a massive win against BYU.
Students stormed the field, and the officials declared that there was one second left on the clock, which gave BYU a chance for a last play hail mary.
Amidst all the chaos, the Sun Devils hung on and now have the chance to win a spot in the Big 12 Championship with a victory.
Luckily, they are facing a dead-in-the-water Arizona team, which appears to have quit weeks ago.
It's an excellent matchup for the Sun Devils, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The Wildcats' defense is horrific, and starback Cam Skattebo should be fine generating explosive plays on the ground.
Defensively, they have more questions, and they've been prone to explosive plays. The Cat's offense has played better lately, so that is something to remember throughout the contest.
The situational spot could be better, given how emotional the last couple of weeks have been for the Sun Devils. But, the Sun Devils realize what is in front of them: a win away from a Big-12 Championship game appearance.
Arizona Wildcats Betting Preview: Their Super Bowl
It's been a complete disaster in Year One of Brent Brennan's experience, but the Cats were expected to take time to rebuild after former head coach Jedd Fisch gutted the entire staff and left for Washington.
Quarterback Noah Fifita has looked lost without his former head coach. He's thrown 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on the season, and he's been a turnover machine, looking like a completely different quarterback than last season.
The biggest issue for the 'Cats has been their defense, as they need help getting out of their way. They do a decent job at limiting explosives, but they've been getting killed in early-down situations.
Given that the 'Cats can not make a bowl game, how much do they genuinely care about this game?
Considering it is a rivalry game, they will treat this like their Super Bowl.
The problem is that their recent play suggests they mailed it in weeks ago, and injuries have ravaged the defense. It's tough to gauge what type of performance we will get from both units.
It's an excellent spot for them at home, but the line has steamed against them all week. Usually, I wouldn't say I like to bet against Steam, so I will become more intrigued if the line continues to climb.
Arizona State vs Arizona
Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Arizona State and Arizona match up statistically:
Arizona State Offense vs. Arizona Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 9 | 73 | |
| Line Yards | 35 | 93 | |
| Pass Success | 35 | 99 | |
| Havoc | 13 | 72 | |
| Finishing Drives | 77 | 118 | |
| Quality Drives | 11 | 100 | |
Arizona Offense vs. Arizona State Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 119 | 48 | |
| Line Yards | 123 | 64 | |
| Pass Success | 97 | 72 | |
| Havoc | 84 | 78 | |
| Finishing Drives | 96 | 66 | |
| Quality Drives | 87 | 69 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 80 | 132 |
| PFF Coverage | 43 | 101 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 130 | 16 |
| Middle 8 | 5 | 97 |
| Seconds per Play | 28.2 (97) | 27.8 (87) |
| Rush Rate | 61% (12) | 43% (125) |
Arizona State vs Arizona Pick & Prediction
It's so gross, but I will back the Wildcats at home.
Look, folks, sometimes you have to go dumpster diving to come out with a winner.
Besides the fact that the 'Cats are outside the top 100 in all the key defensive metrics, they create a decent amount of pressure. The run defense is terrible, but the metrics suggest that they've been creating a sustainable stuff rate, which has helped limit explosives.
That is huge against a Sun Devils offense that has been outstanding at preventing Havoc and creating rush explosives. Both teams are outside the top 85 in tempo, so I expect a slower-paced game, which helps the dog most of the time.
Fifita has been bad for the Cats but has done a decent job through the air when he is not turning the ball over. Also, the Wildcats' offense has created explosive plays on the ground and through the air, where the Sun Devils' defense has struggled.
I've been impressed with the Sun Devils lately, but this team was eight-point underdogs at Kansas State two weeks ago. Not to compare the Cats to Kansas State, but we've hit the peak of the market on the Sun Devils.
I am concerned that the Cats will not be able to contain Skattebo on the ground, but Fafita can create enough offense for them to at least back-door this thing. The Sun Devils are 80th in PFF Tackling, typically an issue against an offense that relies on explosives.
It's gross, and I will wait for the best number possible before kickoff, but it is the wrong spot for the Sun Devils. They should be motivated, but after the emotional last couple of weeks, I could easily see them overlooking the Cats as if they've already punched their ticket to the championship.
Pick: Arizona +9 | Play to +8.5
Arizona
| Location: | Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ |
| Date: | Saturday, Nov. 30 |
| Kickoff Time: | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | FOX |
Arizona State vs Arizona will be played at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 3:30 p.m. ET. You can stream the game live on FOX.
