ASU Football: Betting lines examined, Utes favored by 9.5

The breakdown: Arizona State has now been near double digit underdogs in their last five matchups, a trend that doesn’t seem to change based on the team’s performance. In fact, this is the closest line since ASU was a 7.5 underdog in Lubbock this season against the Red Raiders.

The oddsmakers do have plenty of reasons for picking Utah, however. The Utes are 14-4 in their last 18 matchups at home, are averaging 162.17 rushing yards per game and are first in the Pac-12 in time of possession. The Utes also trounced ASU in Tempe last November by a final score of 49-26 — the Devils don’t usually lose by that much at home.

This season, though, not much has separated the two programs. The Sun Devils lost two tough non-conference contests and have impressed at 2-1 so far in Pac-12 play, while the Utes breezed their way through non-conference play and remain winless after losing to USC and Stanford.

Let’s take a look at how Vegas breaks down this matchup:

The odds: Arizona State (-9.5), Utah (+9.5), Over/Under: 56

ARIZONA STATE

• Arizona State is 4-2 straight up in its last six games playing Utah
• Arizona State is 0-5 straight up in its last five games on the road
• The total has gone under in five of Arizona State’s last six games
• Arizona State is 2-5-1 against the spread in its last five games on the road
• Arizona State is 1-4 against the spread in its last five games when playing Utah

UTAH

• Utah is 14-4 straight up in its 18 games at home
• Utah is 5-0-1 against the spread in its last six games
• Utah is 5-2 straight up in its last seven games
• The total has gone under in seven of Utah’s last nine games
• The total has gone under in four of Utah’s last five games at home

Notes

• The Utes are not only winning when they’ve favored, they’re blowing teams out, managing a 5-0-1 record against the spread as of late
• ASU continues to struggle on the road, having not won in its last five contests
• Utah plays some close, low scoring games in Rice-Eccles stadium, with the total going under in four of Utah’s last five games at home

Note: For entertainment purposes only.