Despite bad injury luck, #25 Arizona State remains alive in the Big 12 chase. If the Sun Devils want to earn a trip to the conference title game, they’ll need to finish the season strong. That means taking care of business this weekend against Colorado. Even at 3-7, the Buffaloes and head coach Deion Sanders will have something to prove.
Who has the edge in this battle between former Pac-12 foes? Arizona State enters this contest as seven-point favorites (-112) over Colorado, with the over/under set at 46.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Arizona State vs. Colorado prediction, preview
Since Sam Leavitt’s season-ending foot injury, backup Jeff Sims has taken over at quarterback. So far, so good for the sixth-year senior. Over his last two games, both starts, Sims has thrown for 384 yards, ran for 309 more, and accumulated seven total touchdowns. As a result, ASU earned much-needed wins over Iowa State and West Virginia. If nothing else, this group’s resilience is a testament to head coach Kenny Dillingham.
Leavitt isn’t the only big piece that’s been missing for the Sun Devils. Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson has missed the team’s previous three matchups due to a hamstring injury. Still, Arizona State managed to go 2-1 without him. When healthy, the junior is a legitimate game-changer, capable of single-handedly destroying a secondary. Through seven games this season, Tyson has recorded 57 catches for 628 yards and eight touchdowns. Per Dillingham, he has a “really good chance” of playing this weekend.
Colorado has had issues defending the pass for years, and this season is no different. The school is giving up 7.5 yards per pass attempt, third-most in the Big 12. It’s been even worse on the ground, where the Buffaloes have surrendered a conference-worst 210.9 rushing yards per game.
If CU is going to earn an upset, it’ll likely need to put up points. That hasn’t been easy, thanks in large part to quarterback uncertainty. Three different passers have earned a start under center for the Buffaloes. None have truly separated themselves, although Julian is currently QB1 on the depth chart. Over his last two games, the freshman has thrown for 420 yards and three touchdowns while failing to turn the ball over. That’s a notable improvement over the likes of Kaidon Salter and Ryan Staub. Connecting with wide receiver Omarion Miller will be crucial; he leads the Big 12 with 19.2 yards per reception.
On the ground, things have been just as difficult for Colorado. No player on the roster has gained more than 313 rushing yards this season. Lead running back Micah Welch has only found the end zone twice. Arizona State is allowing 117.7 rushing yards per game to opponents, second-lowest in the conference. In addition, the Sun Devils rank near the top in sacks (27.0) and tackles for loss (64.0).
Arizona State vs. Colorado pick, best bet
Colorado’s dormant offense has shown signs of life with Lewis. Still, the program remains winless in conference play this season. This squad has far more issues than just throwing the ball. That makes it difficult to trust the Buffaloes against anyone, let alone a resilient ASU team. With Tyson (hopefully) back, the Sun Devils will have firepower at multiple positions. On the other side of the ball, their defense could spell trouble for CU’s freshman passer. Arizona State, with plenty left to play for, should earn a road win on Saturday.
