USC vs. ASU: Betting lines examined, Sun Devils open as 4-point underdogs

The breakdown: Coming off a disheartening loss to Notre Dame, the No. 21 USC Trojans have something to prove. Once billed as a College Football Playoff contender, the Trojans are barely hanging onto the top seed in the Pac-12 South, with both the Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State Sun Devils nipping at their heels.

The Sun Devils haven’t beaten the Trojans since the Jael Mary in 2014, but have won three of their last four games, all in conference play. They’ve been underdogs in all four and are once again on Saturday.

ASU has already knocked off two Top 25 teams at Sun Devil Stadium this season in Oregon and Washington, so a third is not outside the realm of possibility, especially with how well the Sun Devil defense has played since the bye week.

Here’s how Vegas has broken down the matchup:

The odds: USC (-4), ASU win (+145), Washington win (-165), Over/Under 58

ARIZONA STATE (4-2-1 ATS)

• The total has gone UNDER in six of Arizona State's last seven games
• Arizona State is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against USC
• Arizona State is 17-6 in its last 23 games at home
• The total has gone UNDER in six of Arizona State's last seven games
• The total has gone UNDER in four of Arizona State's last five games at home

USC (1-7 ATS)

• USC is 0-6 ATS in its last six games
• USC is 14-3 in its last 17 games when playing Arizona State
• USC is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Arizona State
• The total has gone UNDER in five of USC’s last seven road games
• The total has gone OVER in seven of the last 10 games USC has played at Sun Devil Stadium

Notes

• The Trojans have a habit of playing close this season. USC is just 1-2 on the road, including last week’s blowout loss at Notre Dame. If ASU can assert itself early, this game should follow a similar script.
• The second quarter has been a backbreaker the past couple times these teams played. In 2015 and 2016, USC outscored the Sun Devils 48-0 combined. Other than that, USC’s point differential is +1.

Note: For entertainment purposes only.