Buffs look to halt lengthy skid vs. ASU
Arizona State, coming off a big league victory over UCLA, has not fallen to Colorado in seven tries. Will that streak hold up tonight?
The two Pac-12 adversaries face off at 8 p.m. ET, with oddsmakers placing their faith in the host squad. Online sports book BetDSI opened the Buffaloes as 9-point favorites to topple the Sun Devils. The over/under is 62.5.
After edging the Bruins last Saturday, ASU climbed to No. 24 in the AP poll. Todd Graham’s troops average 39.7 points (24th nationally), and they’ve managed to keep humming despite some uncharacteristic rushing struggles in recent contests. In this spot, it’s vital for either sophomore Manny Wilkins or freshman Dillon Sterling-Cole to connect early and often with Tim White. The senior ranks 13th in the country with 39 receptions.
Meanwhile, Mike MacIntyre’s Buffs aim to rebound from a gut-wrenching loss to USC. Homecoming festivities guarantee a raucous environment in Boulder, where the program already enjoys a 2-0 mark so far in 2016. Big-play threat Shay Fields, whose vertical prowess caused Oregon State severe problems on Oct. 1, also figures to give Graham a headache or two. The wideout boasts seven catches of 30-plus yards through six tilts.
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An under-the-radar tidbit pertaining to Colorado that deserves greater illumination: The defense has forced eight fumbles the past two weekends. Jim Leavitt’s unit continues to wreak a surprising amount of havoc in the Pac-12 and, considering Arizona State’s unsettled picture at quarterback, we expect that to carry through this evening. Bank on a bank-and-forth affair in the Centennial State.
SATURDAY NCAA FREE PICK: ARIZONA STATE/COLORADO UNDER 62.5 POINTS