Utah vs. Arizona State picks, predictions, odds Pac-12 football game – The Arizona Republic

The Utah Utes play the Arizona State Sun Devils in a Week 4 Pac-12 college football game on Saturday.
Which team will win the game?
Check out these picks, predictions and odds for the game, which is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. MST and can be seen on ESPN.
Utah is a 15.5-point favorite in the game, according to Tipico Sportsbook.
Pac-12 football Week 4 picks, predictions, odds:
Chris Ruffolo writes: “I get the reasoning for backing the Sun Devils as a home underdog as they may show up for their new coach. However, we saw the same sort of situation for Nebraska last week, and the Huskers came out flying but the buzz wore off and they were simply run over at that point. I think the same could be in store here for Arizona State, as Emory Jones is prone to miscues and will likely make some here against a solid Utah defense. I’ll side with Utah in a beatdown.”
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It writes: “Arizona State is coming off a disastrous game in which the Sun Devils were defeated by a 19.5-point road dog in front of their home crowd. Arizona State gave up 316 yards rushing and will be facing one of the best running games in college football. Utah is averaging 216.7 yards per game on the ground which is 30th in the nation and will use that to move up and down the field at will against a very weak Sun Devils defense.”
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Two of the site’s three experts pick Arizona State with the points in Saturday’s Pac-12 game in Tempe.
Cam Mellor writes: “This line has climbed north of two touchdowns, however, and that’s getting a little rich for a Pac-12 matchup that still has talent across the board on both teams. Utah is better. Utah wins. But it’s not a blowout like Nebraska vs. Oklahoma.”
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Bill Bender writes: “The bottom has fallen out for the Sun Devils, who are coming off an embarrassing loss to Eastern Michigan and fired Herm Edwards. Arizona State won’t come out flat, and that is a lot of points for a road favorite. Utah, however, has looked like a different team since the Week 1 loss to Florida. The Utes take care of business behind a running game that averages 216.7 yards per game, and they close it out with a fourth-quarter turnover.”
Guy Bruhn writes: “Arizona State has yielded a total of 525 yards on the ground (175.0 yards per game) in addition to 4 touchdowns via the rush on the year. They have given up 3 touchdowns through the air and 172.7 yards/contest, which has them sitting 21st in college football. The Sun Devils defense has been on the field for 210 plays, which has them ranked 85th in Division 1. The Sun Devils are allowing 22.3 PPG, which has them ranked 57th in the nation. Overall, they have allowed 67 pts.”
More:Did Herm Edwards leave Arizona State football in better shape than Todd Graham?
The site predicts that Utah will win the game, but is taking Arizona State with the points. It is also taking the over.
The site’s Football Power Index gives Arizona State a 16.6% chance to win the Week 4 college football game in Tempe.
More:Arizona State football fans call for Ray Anderson to be fired after Herm Edwards firing
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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