California Golden Bears (5-2) 3-3 ATS, 4-2 O/U at Arizona State Sun Devils (4-3) 2-2 ATS, 0-5 O/U Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, ArizonaSaturday October 31, 2009 3:30 p.m. EST
By Wilson of Predictem.com
Point Spread: California -6.5/ASU +6.5
Over/Under: 52.5
The California Golden Bears will make their way into the desert this weekend to battle Pac-10 foe Arizona State. Cal tuned up last week by beating the Washington State Cougars 49-17 while ASU lost to the Stanford Cardinal 33-14.
Cals offense is on a roll as they have won two consecutive games, and is just one win from being bowl eligible. The Bears have scored over 40 points in each of their last two contests. Bears Running back, Jahvid Best scored three touchdowns last weekend against Washington State. Best ran for two scores and caught a TD pass from QB Kevin Riley for his third of the game.
Cals Riley was 12 of 18 for 229 yards and 3 touchdowns. Best finished the day with 13 carries for 159 and 3 touchdowns. The Golden Bears come into this matchup averaging 35.1 points per game. They have a well balanced offensive attack as they average 215 yards per game through the air and on the ground. Cals defense allows 22 points per game. The Bears give up nearly 270 yards in passing yards and 112 to the run.
The Bears seem to have turned things around albeit versus weaker teams in UCLA and WSU but after getting beat back to back weeks by Oregon and USC where they only scored 3 points per game, the Bears have definitely shown that they can find the end zone.
ASU comes into this game putting up 26.7 points per game. The Sun Devils allow 18.4 ppg to their opponents. Offensively, the Sun Devils average 218 yards in passing and 141 in the rushing attack. On defense, ASU tends to stop the rush more than the pass as they only allow 83 yards per game to the run while they give up almost 200 through the air.
In 2008 California won the meeting 24-14 at Berkeley while ASU won in Tempe 31-20 in 2007.
Cal is 2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS, and 2-1 O/U on the road this season. ASU is 3-1 SU, 1-1 ATS, and 0-2 O/U at home this year.
The Bears are 4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS, and 4-1 O/U as the favorite this year. ASU is 0-1 SU, 1-0 ATS, and 0-1 O/U as the underdog this season.
The line on this game opened at ASU +7 with a total of 51.5. Most offshore sportsbooks are showing ASU +6.5 with the total of 52.5.
The over is 6-2 in Cals last 8 road games. ASU is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games versus a team with a winning record.
Both QBs have a completion rate close to 55 percent. Riley should have the edge with Best in the backfield providing a significant threat which will open up the passing game for the Bears. Best has returned to his Heisman-like ability in the last couple of weeks.
ASUs QB Danny Sullivan left the Stanford game with a knee injury but reports indicate that he should be back for this weekends contest.
The Pac-10 has taken a slight turn this season as the University of Oregon sits in the driver seat with USC lurking right behind but theres still time for a shake down. California is hoping to run the table and make a wave on the west coast while ASU will be looking at an uphill challenge as their final five opponents are ranked in the BCS beginning with No. 24 Cal.
Wilsons Pick: Cal 28, ASU 21. Luck to ya.