College Football Betting Odds – Oregon State Beavers at Arizona State Sun Devils

Saturday, October 3: 7:00 p.m.

College Football Betting Odds: Arizona State -4 ½, Total Points 45 ½

Here are some betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

• Arizona State: 5-2 SU in their last 7 games
• Arizona State: 4-1 SU in their last 5 home games
• Arizona State: 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against Oregon State
• Oregon State: 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games
• Oregon State: 4-1 SU in their last 5 road games
• Oregon State: The total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 5 road games

Coming into the season, many expected Oregon State to be able to contend for a Pac-10 championship, with most seeing Arizona State as an afterthought. Through just a couple weeks of the season however, the roles for each team have reversed.

Oregon State entered this season with high hopes, after being just a game away from winning the Pac-10 and going to the Rose Bowl in 2008. However, their stellar play from a season ago has disappeared, as the Beavers are just 2-2, losing to Cincinnati and Arizona in the last two weeks at home.

Many came into the season unsure of what to expect from Oregon State on defense, and the doubters have looked right so far. Currently Oregon State is giving up 364 yards of offense a game, ranked 72 nd in college football. Even worse has been an abysmal pass defense that is breaking in several new starters. As it stands, Oregon State is ranked 110 th in college football and 9 th in the Pac-10, giving up 272 yards a game.

Offensively, the Beavers have been able to score, but not nearly as successfully as a year ago. Running backs Jacquizz and James Rodgers are back, however they aren’t the problem. As of late, it’s been quarterback Sean Canfield, who continues to struggle after missing all of 2008 due to injury. In Oregon State’s two losses, Canfield has thrown one touchdown to three interceptions.

As for Arizona State, they came into last week’s game at Georgia looking to prove themselves. Consider the mission accomplished.

Although the Sun Devils lost 20-17, they were in the game right until the end, holding Georgia’s high-powered offense to just 334 yards of total offense, a week after the Bulldogs put up over 500. Arizona State will need a better effort out of an offense that had only 204 yards of total offense. Senior quarterback Danny Sullivan had a night to forget at Georgia, completing just 48 percent of his passes.

Looking at these two teams, it appears as though Arizona State has the advantage. They have looked crisper on both sides of the ball in the past few weeks, and have to be brimming with confidence after their near victory in Georgia.

But remember though, Oregon State has traditionally been a different team in September under Mike Riley than in other months. Since 2006 this team is just 6-7 in September, yet when conference play kicks off, has been 8-2 in October in that same period of time.

Expect Arizona State to win this game. But it will be closer than the experts think.

Aaron’s Pick: Oregon State +4 ½