Texas vs Arizona State Odds & Picks CFP: Sun Devils To Keep It Close

They ran left, ran right, and ultimately ran over Clemson in the opening round of the College Football Playoff. Now the Texas Longhorns face an opponent that will try to beat them at their own game—Arizona State, which features one of the best running backs in the country, and is a hefty 14-point underdog at bet365 in a Jan. 1 quarterfinal in the Peach Bowl.

The Longhorns’ 14-point home victory over Clemson marked just their third cover in their past eight games. The Sun Devils, who as Big 12 champions earned a bye through the opening round, head to Atlanta having won six straight both overall and ATS. Arizona State has won outright four times this season as an underdog, while Texas has covered in just two of its last six games as a double-digit favorite.

Texas vs Arizona State Odds

Texas vs Arizona State, Jan. 1, 1:00 pm ET

Odds as of Dec. 24 at bet365

Texas vs Arizona State Picks—College Football Playoff

Arizona State +14 (-110) & UNDER 52 (-110) at bet365

For all the talk about Texas’ quarterback duo of Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, the Longhorns held off Clemson in the first round behind a ground attack that rushed for 292 yards. The two-headed tailback tandem of Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner finished with two touchdowns apiece, with Blue putting the game away with a 77-yard scoring burst in the fourth quarter.

But this is a different opponent awaiting in Atlanta. Clemson ended the regular season ranked 14th in the 17-team ACC in rushing yards allowed per game—while Arizona State finished second in the Big 12 and 22nd nationally against the run. And while Clemson’s offense in the opening round rested solely on the right arm of quarterback Cade Klubnik,  the Sun Devils can bash with the best of them behind standout tailback Cam Skattebo.

Don’t let the funny name fool you—Skattebo’s 1,568 rush yards during the regular season ranked fifth nationally, his total nearly matching what Blue and Wisner accumulated combined. He’s gone for 170, 177 and 147 yards in his last three games, two of those against nationally-ranked opponents. Can Arizona State win? Maybe not. But on a neutral field, can it run the ball, shorten the game, and scare a Texas team that hasn’t been very good at covering big spreads? Absolutely. 

Texas’ victory over Clemson marked the first time in four games that the Longhorns have gone OVER the total. Arizona State has gone OVER in five of six, but we’re not in the high-flying Big 12 anymore. In what shapes up as a run-oriented, time of possession game on a neutral field, we’re going with the UNDER.

Texas vs Arizona State News

Center Jake Majors and tackle Cam Williams both left the Clemson game with injuries. According to the Austin American-Statesman, Majors (hurt on blindside block) could have returned, but was held out.

Williams is the bigger concern for the Peach Bowl. “He injured his knee there,” coach Steve Sarkisian told the paper. “Tried to go. We'll get an MRI and see where he's at.” Arizona State will be without leading receiver Jordyn Tyson, who fractured a collarbone on Nov. 30 against Arizona.

Texas vs Arizona State Prop Bet

Cam Skattebo Anytime TD (Odds not available)

Oh yeah, we’re going there. As the season has gone on and the games have gotten bigger for the Sun Devils, Skattebo has seen both his workload and his production increase.

The senior tailback has scored 22 total touchdowns on the season, including three in each of his last three games. Who’s getting the ball in the red zone against Texas? You know who.

Texas vs Arizona State Betting Trends