Arizona State football has high expectations as the Sun Devils head into a new year. Last season, ASU did the unthinkable, going 11-3 and reaching the College Football Playoff.
Seven of those wins were by a margin of 10 points or less, an indicator that clutch play — or luck — helped them eek out double-digit wins.
Pamela Maldonado, a sports betting analyst, is wagering that any luck might even out in 2025. She targeted a win total over-under of 8.5 as she went down the list of the top 25 programs to make a pick on each.
The bet: Arizona State under 8.5 wins (-120)
I don’t love this, but it makes more sense when you factor in the loss of Cam Skattebo. He accounted for over 2,300 yards (rushing and receiving) and 21 of the team’s 30 rushing touchdowns. Without him, the pressure shifts entirely to second-year quarterback Sam Leavitt, who’s talented but still young, and now without his safety valve. The Sun Devils’ schedule looks manageable on paper, but close games become harder to close without Skattebo’s power and consistency. ASU still has upside, but losing its most reliable weapon lowers the floor.
As The Associated Press‘ preseason ranking of the Sun Devils at No. 11 showed, it’s hard to bet against a quarterback like Leavitt, especially when he is among the favorites to win the Heisman trophy.
While the offense will be without Skattebo, they have quality talent that can disprove Maldonado’s pick.
Jordyn Tyson is bouncing back from a collarbone injury and is the obvious main weapon. Head coach Kenny Dillingham and his staff have added players from the transfer portal, such as receiver Jaren Hamilton and running back Kanye Udoh, to join a team that has returnees aplenty on both sides of the ball.
But it won’t be easy for ASU to repeat as Big 12 champions — the program has never been a repeat conference title winner.
The Big 12 may not have a favorite but has plenty of depth, with three other teams in the top 25 along with ASU and three immediately outside the top 25.
Dillingham and his team know what they’re up against as they will be one of the most watched teams in the country.
from Arizona Sports https://ift.tt/CFb1UQt
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