Sun Devils aim to protect house vs. Cougs
Arizona State has won six in a row at Sun Devil Stadium over Washington State. But will that streak come to an end this evening?
The two Pac-12 combatants meet at 10 p.m. ET out West. Online sports book BetDSI opened the visiting squad as a 7.5-point favorite over Todd Graham’s troops. The over/under is 63.5.
Not only are the Sun Devils coming off their worst loss of the year, 40-16 at Colorado, they’re suddenly decimated by injuries. Quarterback Manny Wilkins remains in the lineup, but assorted foot and ankle ailments continue to limit the sophomore’s effectiveness. It doesn’t help that ASU suddenly can’t move the rock via the ground, either. Left guard Sam Jones’ foot problem compounds matters in that regard.
Meanwhile, WSU’s defense keeps building a terrific reputation. The Cougars have forced 15 turnovers, which ranks third in the conference and ninth in the country. Numerous ballhawks lurk in the secondary, too, as Alex Grinch’s unit boasts nine interceptions.
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There’s also intrigue stemming from coach Mike Leach’s comments early in the week. Washington State’s leader publicly accused Arizona State of breaking rules with respect to signal-stealing. He needn’t look for more ways to motivate one of the Pac 12’s hottest groups, though. Expect a fairly lopsided outcome at the end of the evening.
SATURDAY NCAA FREE PICK: WASHINGTON STATE/ARIZONA STATE UNDER 63.5 POINTS