West Virginia and Arizona State will be the final appetizer before the National Championship, but bettors can not sleep on the Cactus Bowl. The Mountaineers have been a fantastic UNDER play, as they have failed to go over the closing total in 17 of their past 21 games.
- Arizona State is 7-2 SU in their last nine following a loss.
- West Virginia is 3-7 SU and ATS in their last 10 following a loss as a fave.
- WVU running back Wendall Smallwood has rushed for 100-plus yards in five of his past six games.
WVU is having difficulties this season with penalties, which has caused them to be the most penalized team in the entire nation. West Virginia has five losses on the season, but four of those came during a four-game stretch where they played Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor and TCU (with the final two having their starting quarterbacks at the time).
This is going to be a de facto home game for Arizona State, as it will be played in Phoenix. The Sun Devils have shown inconsistencies this season, but quarterback Mike Bercovici has put up some great numbers in his final season. Bercovici has thrown 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season, but three of those picks came in games in which he failed to throw a score.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The Arizona State Sun Devils were sitting as -1.5-point favorites earlier in the week at Sportsbook, with the total set at 66.
A 37-32 result in favor of the Mountaineers is the prediction by the Odds Shark handicapping pick engine. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NCAAF matchups here.
Click here for a more in-depth preview of the Cactus Bowl.
West Virginia Mountaineers vs Arizona State Sun Devils Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Supporters of the West Virginia Mountaineers have seen them go 7-5 and 5-7 ATS so far this season, while the Arizona State Sun Devils are at 6-6 and 5-7 ATS. In totals betting, the Sun Devils are 5-7, while the Mountaineers are 3-9. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Arizona State vs West Virginia injuries news.
The OddsShark Power Rankings have the Arizona State Sun Devils at No. 63 and the West Virginia Mountaineers at No. 52 heading into this contest.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Arizona State Sun Devils No. 37-ranked offense (34 PPG) against a West Virginia Mountaineers defense that ranks No. 39 at 23.17 PPG. The Arizona State Sun Devils passing attack has averaged 288.58 yards per game, more than the West Virginia Mountaineers give up through the air (222.67 YPG on average).
In comparing defenses, the West Virginia Mountaineers own the league's No. 53-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 166.2 yards per game when on the road. Arizona State, on the other hand, rates No. 33 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Wendell Smallwood went over the 100-yard mark (141) in his team's latest effort, but Kansas State still defeated West Virginia by a score of 24-23.
Mike Bercovici's 395-yard performance through the air wasn't enough last time out, as California earned a 48-46 win over Arizona State on Saturday at California Memorial Stadium.
