Arizona State Sun Devils vs Utah Utes Picks and Predictions October 11th 2024

ESPN will be covering the week seven matchup between the Utah Utes and Arizona State Sun Devils, set to kick off at 10:30 ET from Mountain America Stadium in Tempe. Both teams come in with a 4-1 record this season. The Utes are favored at -6.5 points, with the over/under line currently set at 45.5 points. The money line odds are -244 for Utah and +200 for Arizona State.

Utah vs. Arizona State Key Information

Utah heads into Week 7 with a 4-1 record, ranked 40th in our CFB power rankings. They have a 92.4% chance of becoming bowl-eligible this season. On the road, the Utes are 2-0, while they are 1-1 at home.

Utah has been favored in four of their five games, going 3-1 as the favorite. Their average scoring margin is +13.4 points per game, but they are 1-3 against the spread this season.

The over/under line for this week is 45.5 points. Utah’s games have averaged 43.4 points, and their over/under record is 1-3, with an average line of 49.6 points.

Utah’s offense has been underwhelming so far, averaging 28.4 points per game, which ranks 52nd nationally. They are 85th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 7. Their third-down conversion rate is just 32.9%, placing them 100th in the country. Quarterback Isaac Wilson has thrown for 830 yards but has a passer rating of 69, with six touchdowns and seven interceptions.

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Utah ranks 74th in passing yards per game, averaging 235.2 yards, and they are 38th in rushing attempts, with 183.8 rushing yards per game. Micah Bernard leads the ground attack with 547 yards and an average of 6 yards per carry, though he has only one rushing touchdown. Dorian Singer has 359 receiving yards on 26 catches.

Despite Utah’s 23-10 loss to Arizona, their defense managed to hold the Wildcats to 23 points, forcing two interceptions and allowing 121 rushing yards on 30 attempts. Arizona threw the ball 49 times, completing 28 passes for 301 yards, but Utah’s defense didn’t allow a passing touchdown.

On the season, Utah’s defense ranks 13th nationally, giving up just 15 points per game. They’ve allowed 110.4 rushing yards per game and 173 passing yards, with opposing quarterbacks completing only 47.4% of their passes, the sixth-lowest rate in the country.

Arizona State enters Week 7 against Utah with a 4-1 record, ranked 53rd in our power rankings. They have an 86.6% chance of becoming bowl-eligible. At home, they are 3-0, while their road record stands at 1-1.

The Sun Devils have gone 3-0 as favorites this season, with an average scoring margin of +9.4 points per game. Against the spread, they are 4-1 overall, covering in all three home games.

Arizona State’s over/under record is 3-2, with their games averaging 57 points. The average line has been 54.4 points, and this week’s line is set at 45.5 points.

Arizona State’s offense is averaging 33.2 points per game heading into week 7, placing them 31st nationally. They are ranked 36th in our offensive power rankings. The Sun Devils have been strong on the ground, averaging 224.8 rushing yards per game on 43.2 attempts, ranking 24th in the country.

Cam Skattebo leads the rushing attack with 619 yards, six touchdowns, and an average of 5 yards per carry. Quarterback Sam Leavitt has thrown for 1,012 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 90.

Arizona State’s defense has been solid against the run, ranking 23rd nationally by allowing just 98.6 rushing yards per game. In their recent game against Kansas, they gave up 152 rushing yards on 32 attempts. The secondary has allowed 215 passing yards per game, ranking 87th, and a passer rating of 89.7, with Kansas throwing for 260 yards and two touchdowns.

Overall, Arizona State’s defense is 41st in the country, giving up 23.8 points per game. They’ve faced the 30th fewest rushing attempts in the nation, at 31 per game, and quarterbacks have completed 58.6% of their passes against them.

Utah is favored by -6.5 points in their week seven matchup against Arizona State. We expect the Utes to win by a score of 25-16, making them a good bet to cover the spread as the road favorite.

The over/under line is set at 45.5 points, but with our projected score, we recommend taking the under, as it suggests a combined total of 41 points.

Cameron Rising Set to Return for No. 16 Utah vs. Arizona State

The Utah Utes are set to welcome back veteran quarterback Cameron Rising, whose absence has contributed to a struggling offense. Rising is expected to start for the 16th-ranked Utes when they face Arizona State on Friday night in Tempe, Arizona, for a pivotal Big 12 matchup. After missing 3 1/2 games due to a hand injury, Rising’s return could be the spark Utah’s offense desperately needs.

Rising’s Injury and Utah’s Offensive Struggles

Rising, a seventh-year senior, sustained his injury during the Utes’ 23-12 victory over Baylor on Sept. 7. The quarterback reportedly dislocated a finger and suffered a cut on his right hand after being shoved out of bounds and colliding with a water cooler. Before the injury, Rising had started the season impressively, throwing for 346 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception across just 1 1/2 games. He was completing 62.1 percent of his passes and looked poised to lead the Utes to another strong campaign.

However, without Rising, Utah’s offense has struggled, particularly in the red zone. Freshman quarterback Isaac Wilson stepped in but couldn’t replicate Rising’s efficiency, and the Utes’ offensive production has dipped significantly. Utah has averaged just 16 points per game against Big 12 opponents, and the team has managed only two touchdowns in its last eight trips to the red zone.

Head coach Kyle Whittingham acknowledged the drop in efficiency, particularly when it comes to finishing drives.

“We’re about 20 percent off where we need to be,” Whittingham said. “It’s not like we’re absolutely horrible. We’re at 50 percent, which isn’t good by any means, but 70 percent is our target. If we can be 70 percent in the red zone, which we have been for several years … then that’s good production.”

With Rising back under center, the Utes will look to improve on their current red zone struggles and regain the offensive form they displayed early in the season.

Wilson’s Learning Curve

In Rising’s absence, freshman Isaac Wilson has gained valuable experience but has struggled with consistency. Wilson has thrown for an average of 242 yards per game in his three starts, but his 55.7 percent completion rate and seven interceptions over five games have been detrimental to Utah’s offensive rhythm. His inexperience showed in a key 23-10 loss to Arizona on Sept. 28, where his mistakes stalled multiple drives.

Whittingham remains patient with his young quarterback, acknowledging that Wilson is still developing.

“His entire game just needs to continue to get tighter and better,” Whittingham said. “But there’s not any one glaring area where you can say he’s really lacking in this or that. He’s a freshman — a true freshman. There’s going to be a learning curve, there’s going to be mistakes made that you’re going to have to live with.”

While Wilson’s struggles have impacted the Utes, his growth during this stretch could benefit the team later in the season.

Arizona State’s Ground Game and Leavitt’s Progress

Arizona State (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) has been trending upward, thanks in large part to a potent rushing attack led by running back Cam Skattebo. Skattebo ranks second in the Big 12 in rushing, amassing 615 yards and averaging 5.5 yards per carry. His ability to break off big runs has kept the Sun Devils’ offense moving, even when their passing game has been inconsistent.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt has also shown improvement as the season has progressed. Leavitt has three 200-yard-plus passing games in his five starts, though his 59 percent completion rate suggests there’s still room for growth. However, he took a big step forward in last week’s 35-31 win over Kansas, where he threw four touchdown passes after totaling just three touchdowns in his previous four games.

Head coach Kenny Dillingham praised Leavitt’s ability to adjust and improve his game.

“The best thing about Sam is he’s a self-corrector,” Dillingham said. “He can see things. He can feel what’s wrong. He can feel himself do something right, and then he can correct (mistakes) on his own.”

Leavitt’s continued development will be crucial for Arizona State as they take on a Utah defense that will be looking to bounce back after a tough loss.

Utah’s Recent Dominance in the Series

Arizona State leads the all-time series against Utah 22-12, but recent history has favored the Utes. Utah has won four straight games in the series, including a 55-3 rout last season in Salt Lake City. In that game, Utah’s offense was firing on all cylinders, with four touchdown passes from Bryson Barnes and a season-high 352 rushing yards by the team.

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Despite Arizona State’s strong start to the season, Utah’s recent dominance in the series and the return of Rising could give the Utes a much-needed boost in this year’s contest.

The Road Ahead

With Cameron Rising returning to lead the offense, Utah will be looking to regain the momentum it had early in the season and correct its red zone issues. Arizona State, on the other hand, will aim to continue its upward trajectory behind Cam Skattebo’s rushing and Sam Leavitt’s improving play.

As both teams continue their Big 12 journeys, Friday night’s matchup could have significant implications for their standings in the conference. Utah is looking to stay in the hunt for a potential conference championship, while Arizona State is eager to prove it can compete with the top teams in the league.

The return of Rising adds another layer of intrigue to an already exciting game, as Utah seeks to bounce back and Arizona State looks to keep its momentum rolling in front of its home crowd.