No. 12 USC Trojans (6-2) 2-6 ATS, 4-4 O/U at Arizona State Sun Devils (4-4) 3-2 ATS, 0-6 O/U Sun Devil Stadium Saturday November 7, 2009 Tempe, Arizona 8:00 p.m. EST
By Wilson of Predictem.com
Point Spread: USC -10/ASU +10
Over/Under: 45.5
The USC Trojans will make their way into the desert this weekend as they head to Sun Devil Stadium and take on Arizona State. ASU might want to be careful and prepare for a team who will come into this game with a lot to prove. The Trojans were hammered by Oregon last week 47-20 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.
ASU is coming off of a loss to the California Bears 23-21. The Sun Devils are in the middle of the Pac-10 at 4-4 and are looking for a couple more wins to push them into bowl eligibility. The Sun Devils are ranked 120th in penalty yards as they average 84 yards in penalties per game. ASU had 85 yards in penalties by halftime in the Bears game; 75 of those yards were from personal fails. If the Sun Devils want to make it into the post season they will need to clean up the mistakes.
ASUs QB, Danny Sullivan was 16 of 29 for 244 yards and one touchdown. The Sun devils are averaging 26 points per game with 221 yards through the air and 134 yards on the ground. The Devils are allowing 19 ppg to their opponents. They have been especially tough against the run as they only allow 80 yards per game to the opposition.
USC is averaging 30 points per game with 235 yards passing and 191 yards on the ground. The Trojans are also giving up 19 points to the competition. They give up 213 yards passing and 118 yards rushing. The Trojans defense is not the same dominant D as in past years. Oregon put on a clinic versus the Trojans as they rushed for over 300 yards. USCs defense will probably regroup after their poor play last weekend but they are still young and it may take another year before they show signs of growth.
The Trojans are 3-2 SU, 1-4 ATS and 2-3 O/U on the road this season. They are 6-2 SU, 2-6 ATS and 4-4 O/U as the favorite this year.
ASU is 3-2 SU, 2-1 ATS and 0-3 O/U at home this season. The Sun Devils are 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS and 0-2 O/U as the underdog this year.
USC has won the last two meetings, and they have outscored ASU in those two meetings 72-24.
ASU has won 2 of their last 5 games while USC has 4 of their last 5 contest.
USC is 1-7 ATS in their last 8 conference games. The under is 20-8-2 in ASUs last 30 conference games. The line on this game opened at USC -11 with a total of 46.5. Most online casinos are showing USC -10 with the total at 45.5. The Las Vegas Hilton Sportsbook has USC -10.5 and 45.5 O/U as well.
The way the Trojans collapsed last week at Oregon a guy might think they would bounce back and trash their next opponent but ASU is no slouch and they play tough at home under Dennis Erickson whos had a bit of success in his days as a college coach. I like the Sun Devils to pull out their pitch forks this weekend and stickem in the Trojans on both sides of the ball. If Erickson can get his guys to buy-in that they can beat the almighty boys of Troy we could see back to back losses for USC. Hey, even a blind squirrel finds a nut from time to time!
Wilsons Pick: ASU 35 USC 21. Luck to ya.