by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Sep 24, 2021
Game time: 10:30 p.m. ET, Sept. 25, 2021
Venue: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ
Where to watch: ESPNU
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Arizona State -14; O/U 45; ASU -630, Colorado +450
BetMGM: Arizona State -14; O/U 44.5; ASU -625, Colorado +455
Caesars: Arizona State -14; O/U 45; ASU -650, Colorado +450
Season record
Colorado: 1-2
Arizona State: 2-1
Team Del Genio was a PERFECT 4-0 in all-sports on Saturday to further a 9 of 11 (82%) HOT STREAK this week, WINNING their 25* NCAA-F Pac-12 Game of the Month with USC and their 25* NCAA-F Saturday TV Total of the Month with the ASU/BYU under! Catch Del Genio’s and other plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Colorado - Arizona State preview and analysis
Recent form
Colorado: lost 30-0 vs. Minnesota on Sept. 18
Arizona State: lost 27-17 at No. 15 BYU on Sept. 18
The Arizona State Sun Devils hit a snag this past weekend and fell out of the top 25, but I like them to rebound against a Colorado Buffaloes team that is on pace to be the worst in the Pac-12.
Arizona State is unranked for the first time this season after losing 27-17 to the now-No. 15 BYU Cougars by 10 points on Saturday. It was the first kind of struggle game for quarterback Jayden Daniels (two interceptions) but this is shaping up to be a strong finish to September for the Sun Devils.
It’s hard to blame Arizona State’s offense for the tough sledding against BYU. The Sun Devils outgained BYU 426-361 and Daniels was nearly step for step with BYU quarterback Jaren Hall. The problem was BYU’s defense, which has been one of the best in the country to start the season, held ASU to 10 points in the second half after taking a 21-7 lead into halftime.
Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards won’t have to sweat too much over his run game. Daniyel Ngata ran for 82 yards on only eight carries and had a touchdown in the loss. He and leading rusher Rachaad White combined for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. It was ASU’s first real test after starting with wins over the FCS Southern Utah Thunderbirds and the UNLV Rebels in a pair of home games.
After starting the season with essentially three home games, the Buffs are hitting the road for the first time facing an angry ASU team. Colorado is coming off a disappointing 30-0 loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers one week after an inspiring three-point loss to the Texas A&M Aggies in Denver, nearly pulling off the upset.
But while the Arizona State offense may have struggled in Provo, at least it wasn’t as horrendous as Colorado’s offense. The Gophers defense held Colorado to 63 total yards, which included -19 rushing yards, an absolutely atrocious showing in Boulder. The fact that their only win was against the FCS Northern Colorado Bears should have Colorado players seething, knowing there’s nothing they can do in this instance.
Prediction
While the college football gods would normally toy with us and have Colorado keep this close while also cashing on the over, it’s best to not trust the team with the losing record and playing for the low total. Arizona State should roll by three touchdowns and improve to 3-1. Arizona State by 21
Betting trends
Arizona State is 0-7 against the spread in its last seven as a home favorite.
Colorado is 2-4 ATS in its last six as a road underdog.
Players to watch
Colorado: Quarterback Brendon Lewis needs to be better. There’s no other way around it. He went 8-of-16 for only 55 yards last week against Minnesota. If Colorado wants a chance, the quarterback needs to play better than that.
Arizona State: While he’s only found the end zone once, LV Bunkley-Shelton is still ASU’s top receiver with nine receptions for 110 yards and the one score. This might be the week he and fellow receiver Andre Johnson take over and dominate.
Statistical leaders
Colorado:
Passing: Brendon Lewis -- 246 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jarek Broussard -- 153 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Daniel Arias -- 45 yards,
Defense: Nate Landman -- 27 tackles
Arizona State:
Passing: Jayden Daniels -- 572 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Rachaad White -- 219 yards, 5 TD
Receiving: Rachaad White -- 117 yards
Defense: Darien Butler -- 2 sacks, 2 INT
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
