ASU Football: Pac-12 against the spread for Week One

After a wild first week of Pac-12 football, a full slate begins Saturday with USC-Stanford opening conference play and ASU football facing Michigan State.

In week one, the conference went 8-4, but against the spread, the Conference of Champions was just 5-6-1 (you can thank Cal for the lone tie).

Because three member schools face FCS opponents this week, point spreads haven’t been released for those games, but there are eight other games featuring Pac-12 schools to bet on.

Arizona at Houston

Line: Houston -3.5

Arizona collapsed against BYU in Kevin Sumlin‘s debut, but that could be because of first-game jitters. If the Wildcats want to win on the road, they’ll have to see a lot more out of Khalil Tate, who struggled in the loss.

Their week two opponent, Houston, trailed at half to Rice, but the Cougars kicked into gear in the second half, ultimately winning by double digits.

Houston’s defense, led by defensive tackle Ed Oliver, will put enough pressure on Tate to take down Arizona at home. I expect Houston to cover the spread, but it’s not a safe pick — there are too many uncertainties surrounding Arizona.

UCLA at Oklahoma

Line: Oklahoma -30.0

These teams are on the opposite ends of the spectrum — one looked really good last week, and one looked really bad. UCLA fell to a Cincinnati team that went 4-8 last year, while OU crushed Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic team, which won 11 games a year ago.

While 30 points is a large spread for a power five matchup, Oklahoma will cover. Oklahoma’s offense is brutal, and UCLA won’t be able to catch up.

Colorado vs. Nebraska

Line: Nebraska -3.5

Two former Big 12 schools will meet up for the first time since both left the conference in 2011. Nebraska’s week one game against Akron was canceled, but Colorado made a statement in their opener against their in-state rival, Colorado State.

The Cornhuskers probably would’ve liked to have played the Akron game as a warm up, but that did not happen, and Nebraska could be vulnerable as a result.

That being said, Nebraska will find a way to win by at least a touchdown, covering the spread, thanks in part to a rowdy crowd at Memorial Stadium.

Utah at Northern Illinois

Line: Utah -11.0

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Utah started slow against Weber State but quickly pulled away in the second half. The Utes have a stellar defense, and on offense, a promising dual-threat quarterback in Tyler Huntley.

If Utah can put up points like they did last week, it should have zero problems with Northern Illinois. The Utes cover on the road.

USC at Stanford

Line: Stanford -6.0

Even with a dismal performance from Bryce Love, Stanford looked really good in week one. The Cardinal took care of business against a solid San Diego State team, while USC looked sluggish against UNLV.

Love will find his stride this week, and when he is on his game, the entire team is on its game. The 1-2-3 punch of K.J. Costello, Love and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside will be too much for USC to stop.

Stanford will cover the spread because of its offense and the home crowd.

California at BYU

Line: BYU -2.5

Is BYU for real? It’s too early to tell, but the Cougars looked sharp last week against Arizona.

Squally Canada ran for three touchdowns and 98 yards in the win, and he will be a big factor in Saturday night’s game against Cal.

Cal played comfortably in the win against UNC, and I expect them to win by a touchdown and cover the spread against the Tar Heels.

San Jose State vs. Washington State

Line: WSU -34.5

Washington State played well in its week one win against Wyoming, defeating the Cowboys by a score of 41-19. San Jose State, on the other hand, lost to an FCS opponent in UC Davis, which is, well, not good.

A 34.5-point spread could be a bit generous considering just how bad SJSU is. If Gardner Minshew plays well again, the Cougars will easily cover.

ASU vs. Michigan State

Line: MSU -5.5

In week one, Michigan State had trouble with a mid-major in Utah State, but regardless, the Spartans escaped with a 1-0 record. On the flipside, Arizona State exceeded expectations in Herm Edwards’ coaching debut, and the Sun Devils will be pumped for their first game against a Big Ten team since 2013 (Wisconsin).

Michigan State’s defense is among the best in the nation, in particular, their front seven. However, its offensive line is dismal, which could minimize LJ Scott‘s and Connor Heyward‘s production in the backfield.

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If ASU’s defense is as stout as in the opener vs. UTSA, the Sun Devils will cover the spread and start the Herm Edwards era 2-0.

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ASU Football: Pac-12 against the spread for Week Two

By Carson Field | Sep 7, 2018