Week 1: Arizona State vs Northern Arizona 9/1/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (0-0) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (0-0)
September 1, 2022 10:00 pm EDT
The Line: Arizona State Sun Devils -25.5 / Northern Arizona Lumberjacks +25.5 ; Over/Under:
(Get latest betting odds)
The Arizona State Sun Devils and Northern Arizona Lumberjacks clash Thursday in week 1 college football action from Sun Devil Stadium. This will be the season opener for both teams. Northern Arizona is coming off a 5-6 run in 2021, finishing 4-4 in Big Sky Conference play. As for Arizona State, they went 8-5 overall last year and ultimately fell in the Las Vegas Bowl. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.
Northern Arizona had a fairly disappointing season in 2021 with their 5-6 overall finish and 4-4 mark in Big Sky play. That record left the Lumberjacks in seventh place in the standings; right around the middle of the pack.
The good news for Northern Arizona is that four of their six losses came to ranked teams last season. The bad news is that none of those losses was close, and the Lumberjacks will have to contend with the likes of Montana State and Sam Houston State once again this year.
Over on the Arizona State side, they’re coming off an up-and-down campaign in 2021. The Sun Devils’ overall record was 8-5, and they posted a 6-3 record in Pac-12 play. Arizona State finished third in the South Division, behind Utah and UCLA.
The Sun Devils started out pretty well last year at 5-1 (with a lone loss to BYU), but the team was only able to win consecutive games once during the remainder of the season. In the Las Vegas Bowl against Wisconsin, Arizona ultimately fell in a tough result 20-13.
PICK: I’m probably going to lean Arizona State in this one, but staying away. The Sun Devils saw 17 players enter the transfer portal after a tumultuous season on and off the field in 2021. The team lost many of their best players, including QB Jayden Daniels. The good news is that the Sun Devils should be in capable hands under new OC Glenn Thomas, who has intriguing names at running back in Xazavian Valladay and Daniyel Ngata. The offensive line is still a question mark however, as is QB. Still, Arizona State should have enough firepower and guidance to bag a cover here—but I’m not touching it.
