The 1-4 Arizona State Sun Devils look to halt a four-game losing streak when they host the No. 21-ranked Washington Huskies in a Pac-12 battle on Saturday afternoon in Tempe, Arizona.
The Huskies hit the road for the first time this season against UCLA in Week 5 and had trouble moving the ball in the first half before hitting their stride in the second.
A second consecutive road trip will give Washington a chance to get off to a better start against a lesser rival, who’s in the midst of a coaching change following an abysmal first half of the season.
Can Arizona State pull off the upset in its third consecutive matchup against a ranked opponent? Read our college football picks and predictions below to find out.
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Washington vs Arizona State best odds
Washington vs Arizona State picks and predictions
A slow start hampered Washington against an undefeated and now-ranked UCLA squad last Saturday — resulting in the Huskies’ first loss of the season in a 40-32 road setback.
The Bruins (5-0) stifled Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who entered the game leading the country in passing yards. The Indiana transfer looked sharp on the opening drive of the game, pushing his team downfield before hitting Rome Odunze for a 33-yard touchdown pass on 4th-and-6, but the momentum stopped there. On the following Huskies drive, UCLA recorded its first safety since the 2018 season, then scored a touchdown on the Bruins’ next offensive possession.
Washington responded with a field goal before Penix got picked off twice in the first half, as UCLA carried a 26-10 lead into the break. The Huskies turned it around coming out of the locker room, with Penix recording a trio of touchdown passes, his last coming with 3:59 remaining in regulation on Washington’s final drive.
The junior quarterback finished the contest with 345 yards on 33 of 48 passing and took his first two sacks of the season. Washington’s run game was practically nonexistent after the team dug itself into a hole.
Wayne Taulapapa, who recorded a career-high 120 yards against Stanford the game prior, ended the day with 48 yards on 10 carries, and Washington totaled 65 yards on the ground with a 2.8 yards-per-carry average while allowing UCLA to run for 184 yards and two scores on 39 attempts.
The Huskies need to get off to a much better start in their second road matchup of the season, and luckily for them, Arizona State should give them an easier time than UCLA.
The Sun Devils rank in the bottom half of the Pac-12 in defense and are second to last in offensive yards per game. With the firing of Herm Edwards following the team’s 30-21 loss to Eastern Michigan, Shaun Aguano has stepped in as interim coach and immediately had the tall task of facing ranked Utah and USC teams.
Arizona State quickly fell behind Utah at home, trailing 24-6 at the half, but the Sun Devils were able to exploit USC’s weaknesses against the run and stayed within striking distance through two quarters, with the Trojans holding a 4-point lead at halftime.
The Huskies boast a better run defense and will look to right their issues from out the gate in Tempe. Look for Washington to make a statement on the road and get off to a much faster start in this matchup.
My best bet: Washington first half -7.5 (-110 at DraftKings)
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Washington vs Arizona State spread analysis
First-year Washington coach Kalen DeBoer has his team rolling the first half of the season and was able to get the Huskies back on track in the second half against UCLA.
Washington can learn from last week’s early mistakes while confronting an inferior opponent and regain its confidence on offense against a team that ranks seventh in the Pac-12 against the pass, ninth against the run, and surrenders 28.6 points per contest.
The Sun Devils are also second to last in passing yards per game and minus-1 in turnover margin, with Florida transfer Emory Jones accounting for three interceptions this season against four passing touchdowns.
Washington ranks 36th in the nation in turnover margin, with five interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The Huskies also rank third in the conference with 16 sacks.
The Huskies’ ATS record has been poor against Arizona State in the past, going 0-7 against the spread in their last seven games in Tempe, but it’s a new era with DeBoer.
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last five games overall and averages the seventh-most points in college football (41.6), while Arizona State is 2-3 ATS this season and 1-2 ATS at home.
Washington vs Arizona State Over/Under analysis
The Huskies rank third in the FBS in passing yards per game and will confront an Arizona State defense that gives up 225.2 yards per contest through the air.
Penix should be able to have his way with the home team, and the Washington run game will likely rebound against the Sun Devils as well, with Arizona State allowing an average of 173.4 yards.
The Sun Devils' offense, on the other hand, will struggle to get much going with its pass attack and will need to find holes in the Washington run defense to keep the chains moving.
The total opened between 55 and 55.5 at most sportsbooks and has settled between 57 and 57.5.
The Over is 6-0 in the Huskies’ last six games overall and 4-1 in their last five conference games, but the Under is 11-1-1 in Arizona State’s last 13 home games.
The Under has also hit in five of the last six meetings between these teams, with the average score in Tempe equaling 45.5 over the last four matchups dating back to 2009.
Arizona State put up just 13 points against Utah, who has the top scoring defense in the Pac-12, but the Sun Devils found their way to the end zone three times against USC, who ranks third in points surrendered in the conference.
The Huskies defense will bend enough times to let the Sun Devils hang around on occasion, but ultimately, Washington’s offense is too versatile for Arizona State to pull off an upset at home.
Washington vs Arizona State betting trend to know
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last five games overall. Find more NCAA betting trends for Washington vs. Arizona State.
Washington vs Arizona State game info
| Location: | Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ |
| Date: | Saturday, October 8, 2022 |
| Kickoff: | 4:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Pac-12 Network |
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