Arizona State at Wisconsin Odds
Written by Matthew Martz - Google +
The No. 11 Wisconsin Badgers will host the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday, September 18 at 12:30 PM EST at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. This is sure to be an interesting match up during Week 3 of the season, and odds show the Badgers –14 over ASU with a total set of 48.5 points.
Both teams come into the Saturday’s contest at 2-0 but will face their toughest opponent this far in their 2010 campaigns.
The Sun Devils are coming off wins over FCS foes Portland State and Northern Arizona and although they outscored their advisories 95-29, but there is still lots of work to be done on both sides of the ball if ASU wants to make a legitimate run at a bowl appearance and possibly a PAC-10 title.
One area that needs an overhaul is the Devils ability or lack thereof to move the ball effectively on the ground as well as eliminating the excess of bad penalties. After just two games, the Devils have amassed 24 penalties for 224 yards and just a week after tallying 242 yards on the ground their win over PSU, the team turned in a pathetic 56 on 29 carries against the Lumberjacks.
That’s a whopping 112 penalty yards per game, which ranks 118th out of the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams. They committed 13 penalties for 131 yards against Northern Arizona, something they cannot afford to do against Wisconsin.
The Badgers despite an unblemished record to start the season are yet to be truly tested as the team’s wins have come against lower ranked opponents UNLV and San Jose State.
Turnovers allowed UNLV to hang with Wisconsin in Week 1 while not being able to execute on several key plays kept the Badgers from jumping out to a huge lead in their 27-14 victory over SJSU.
The game was kept close until junior running back John Clay punched in on a 1-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter. Clay led the way, rushing for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the win, and has now rushed for at least 100 yards in eight consecutive games and tallied his ninth career multi-touchdown game.
Nevertheless, Clay and the Badgers will get their first real test of the season against the Sun Devils, a team that has held its last two opponents to an average 14.5 points and 250.5 total offensive yards per game, including just 61 from the run.
In the meantime Michigan State transfer QB Threet who has enjoyed two quick victories against weaker FCS teams, will look forward to his second meeting with the Badgers as team he has had success against in the past. He guided the Wolverines to a 27-25 win over then-No. 9 Wisconsin on Sept. 27, 2008, completing 12 of 31 passes for 96 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, but made nine carries for 89 yards rushing.
This will be an important game for both teams, as it will indicate who well they stack up to top flight teams.
The Sun Devils will need to find a way to establish the run against a 22nd ranked Badgers’ run defense whereas Wisconsin’s challenge will be to tighten up their 47th ranked pass defense.
Offensively ASU could use a little something extra from running back Cameron Marshall who was held to just 28 yards rushing against NAU, while the Badges face their own challenges of allowing more opportunity for senior quarterback Scott Tolzien to improve their air assault.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Arizona State +14 – If you’re looking for the straight up bet, then Wisconsin is your choice. However, I just don’t think there going to win by more than 10. In that case take Sparky’s boys and give the points.
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