College Football Preview – BYU Cougars vs. Arizona State Sun Devils

There will be three games between ranked teams this weekend. Most people are paying attention to Florida-Alabama or Penn State-Auburn, but perhaps the best game of the bunch might be the nightcap between the BYU Cougars and Arizona State Sun Devils. This is projected to be the closest game of the trio by the college football betting odds.

BYU is a short home underdog against Arizona State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah this Saturday night. The Cougars and Sun Devils will square off at 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.

College Football Betting Odds

Arizona State -3.5

BYU +3.5

Total 51

The Arizona State Sun Devils are one of three unbeaten teams left in the Pac 12. Whereas Oregon and UCLA have impressive wins though, the Sun Devils have simply checked the box in 27-point wins over Southern Utah and UNLV.

BYU is looking to take down a Pac 12 team for the third straight week. The Cougars beat Arizona by eight points in their season opener, and they scratched out a nine-point victory over long-time rival Utah in the Holy War last week. That has Kalani Sitake riding high in Provo.

When BYU Has the Ball

This offense isn’t as prolific without Zach Wilson running the show, but Jaren Hall has done a decent imitation playing his own style. Hall is completing 62.1% of his passes for 347 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions on the season, and he is BYU’s second-leading rusher while averaging 9.8 YPC.

Tyler Allgeier is churning out 4.5 YPC for the Cougars on the ground, while Neil Pau’u is the leading receiver for BYU with 11 receptions for 145 yards and three touchdowns.

Arizona State has had a top-tier defense since Herm Edwards took over in Tempe. The Sun Devils are allowing 2.8 YPC and 3.5 YPA, but this offense should have more success than either Southern Utah or UNLV. This defense has upperclassmen starting at every position, and Chase Lucas and Jack Jones are a solid pair of corners.

When Arizona State Has the Ball

The Sun Devils are led by dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels has completed 73.2% of his passes and is averaging 7.5 YPA, and he also leads the team in rushing by averaging 8.7 YPC.

Rachaad White and Daniyel Ngata are each averaging at least 5.0 YPC too. That has made this ground game very effective, as the Sun Devils have worn down their first two opponents.

It won’t be easy to throw the ball on the Cougars. BYU is allowing 6.6 YPA despite playing two Power Five teams, and the Sun Devils might not have Bryan Thompson or Elijhah Badger available. The Cougars have been susceptible to the run though.

Prediction

The under looks like a solid bet on Saturday night, while BYU is the lean on the side due to home field advantage and being battle tested with their previous wins.

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