Posted on
11/3/2007 12:29:21 AM
College Football Odds: Arizona State vs. Oregon
By Charles Jay
WHO: Arizona State Sun Devils (8-0 SU, 5-2 ATS) vs. Oregon Ducks (7-1 SU & ATS)
WHEN & WHERE: Saturday, 7:45 PM ET, Oregon's Autzen Stadium in Eugene (artificial turf)
BETUS COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING LINE: Oregon -7.5
LAST POINTSPREAD RESULT: Arizona State beat California last Saturday, 31-20, covering as a three-point home favorite in a game that went under the 63-point total. Oregon beat USC 24-17, covering at home as a three-point favorite. The game went under the posted total of 63.5.
HEAD-TO-HEAD college football betting trends:
* ASU has covered eight of the last 12 meetings
* ASU has covered four of the last six meetings at Oregon
* The visitor has covered four of the last five meetings
* OREGON has won six of the last nine meetings SU
* The underdog has covered the last five meetings
* The last four meetings have been decided by double-digit margins
LAST MEETING: 9/30/06 - Oregon, the three-point road underdog, beat Arizona State 48-13, outgaining the Sun Devils by a huge 574-175 margin.
ABOUT ARIZONA STATE:
The Good News -- The Sun Devils are rated #6 on both the USA Today and AP polls, and even better, #4 in the BCS standings. They are ranked ninth in the country in rushing defense, allowing just 89 yards a game (on 3.2 yards a carry). They are also 7th in scoring defense (15.6 ppg), seventh in pass efficiency defense and 17th in turnover margin. QB Rudy Carpenter is 7th in the country in passing efficiency, with 17 TD passes and only seven INT's.
The Bad News -- Ryan Torain is out of the lineup for the rest of the season with a broken foot. Carpenter has been sacked 28 times. And in its two road games, ASU has yielded 606 passing yards.
ARIZONA STATE TRENDS:
* ASU has played six of its last seven road games under the total
* ASU has played five of seven games under the total this season
* ASU is 2-6 ATS in its last eight games as a road dog
* ASU is 2-10 ATS as a road dog vs. an opponent off a SU win
ABOUT OREGON:
The Good News -- Oregon is rated #4 in both the USA Today and Associated Press polls and #5 in the BCS standings. The Ducks have averaged 524 yards of offense, ranking them fourth in the country, and are third in the nation with 43.8 ppg.
The defense has also recorded 67 tackles for loss, ranking them ninth in the country at 8.4 per game. Dennis Dixon is a Heisman candidate - sixth in the nation in passing, with 16 TD's and three INT's, and he also has 492 rushing yards. RB Jonathan Stewart is 7th in the country with 130.4 yards a game.
The Bad News -- Defense is not Oregon's strong suit. The Ducks allow 394 yards a contest, placing them 68th in the nation statistically.
OREGON TRENDS:
* OREGON has covered seven of its eight games this year
* OREGON has covered four of its last five home games
* OREGON has covered 11 of its last 14 as a home favorite
THE BOTTOM LINE: Arizona State has outscored its opponents 153-29 in the second half this season. That's indicative of sound adjustments and good coaching. Dennis Erickson has been successful in a lot of places, and he is making the difference right now in Tempe. Though the Sun Devils have benefited from advantageous scheduling, they are still solid on both sides of the ball. Carpenter is fully capable of exploiting an Oregon defense that has given ground to good offenses, and the revenge angle is strong, as ASU was beaten from pillar to post in last season's hookup. Throw an edge toward the ASU express, unbeaten and grabbing 7.5 points on the BetUS college football betting line.
NCAA football betting has started, and BetUS sportsbook already has tons of college football Futures betting available for those of us who can't wait. Bet on the Heisman winner, Conference and Divisional winners and, of course, the 2008 BCS National Championship winner. Bet NCAA Football Futures in our sportsbook today in the Future / props section!
(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com loves to help people pick winners. He is a regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room)