UNLV Arizona State Predictions

Written by Jack Jones

This Saturday the 15th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils will welcome the UNLV Rebels to Sun Devil stadium on Saturday, September 13thth in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Jack Jones will preview the college football odds for this game and go-in depth on each team’s chances. The current spread is Arizona State -22.5 with a total set at 51.

The Sun Devils will try not to look past the Rebels as they wait for the Georgia Bulldogs to come into town next weekend in a key non-conference game that could have implications for each school’s BCS title hopes. However, if they don’t take care of business here then that game will not be near as publicized as if both teams are undefeated heading into September 20th. An upset seems unlikely with UNLV losing nine of their last 10 games, 21 of their last 22 on the road, and their last seven games against teams in the top 25.

Arizona State has moved up the ranks during the first two weeks of the season by putting up plenty of points against Northern Arizona and Stanford. Last weekend it was a convincing 41-17 win over Stanford in the Pac-10 opener. Senior quarterback Rudy Carpenter was the story in that one as he threw for 345 yards and three touchdowns. That gave him 733 on the year, good for fifth in the nation.

So far this season Michael Jones has been a big part of Carpenter’s success, catching a touchdown against the Cardinal and gaining 241 receiving yards on the young season.

Injuries are kind of plaguing Arizona State for this Saturday’s game. Linebacker Gerald Munns is doubtful after having a pin inserted in his broken finger, and running back Keegan Herring is hampered by an injured hamstring and is questionable.

Even with the offense scoring a lot of points, the goal-line offense needs to improve their efficiency if they hope to beat the better teams. Against the Cardinal, the team was forced to kick two short field goals and trailed 7-6 because they couldn’t punch it into the end zone.

The Rebels are going to have to try to get things figured out before heading to Tempe, since last week they got off to a 14-7 lead before giving up 35 straight points to No. 22 Utah. The team struggled with penalties and were inconsistent in all phases of the game.

The offense is centered around Frank Summers, who has had 87 yards in each of the first two games and scored a pair of touchdowns against the Utah Utes a week ago. He’s a big beast who runs well between the tackles.

Predictions: Arizona State 35, UNLV 14

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