Texas Tech Red Raiders at Arizona State Sun Devils
Saturday, September 10, 2016, 10:00 pm Eastern, TV: FS1
Sun Devil Stadium – Tempe, Arizona
Opening Line: Arizona State -4
Current Line: Arizona State -1
Opening Total: 80
Current Total: 79 1/2
Opening Money Line: Arizona State -155 / Texas Tech +135
Current Money Line: Arizona State -115 / Texas Tech -105
The Texas Tech Red Raiders and Arizona State Sun Devils meet for the third time ever Saturday night in Tempe. The series is tied 1-1 and the Red Raiders won the last meeting 37-23 in the 2013 Holiday Bowl. The Sun Devils make the return trip to Lubbock next season.
Both teams are 1-0 with routs over inferior FCS schools that were nicknamed the Lumberjacks. Texas Tech is coached by Kliff Kingsbury. The Red Raiders crushed Stephen F. Austin 69-17 in Lubbock last Saturday. Texas Tech was a 37.5 point favorite and the total was 87. Arizona State is coached by Todd Graham. The Sun Devils were 27 point favorites against Northern Arizona at home and the total was 76. ASU won easily 44-13 last Saturday.
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Texas Tech jumped out to a 35-0 lead with 12 minutes left in the second quarter before Stephen F. Austin even got on the board with a field goal. The Red Raiders would lead 45-3 at halftime and cruise to a 69-17 win. The game stayed under the 87 points total by a single point.
Texas Tech had 758 total yards including 633 passing and 125 rushing yards. SFA had 370 total yards including 312 passing and 58 rushing yards. The Red Raiders had 37 first downs to 24 for the Lumberjacks. Texas Tech was 7/15 on third down conversions and 0/1 on fourth down conversions. SFA was 5/17 on third downs and 0/2 on fourth downs. The Red Raiders had 7 penalty yards for 42 yards and the Lumberjacks had 3 for 25 yards. SFA had 3 turnovers to 1 for Texas Tech. Time of possession was pretty much even as Texas Tech held the ball for 7 seconds longer.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a monster game completing 30 of 43 passes for 483 yards with 4 touchdowns and also rushed for 57 yards on 10 carries with 2 touchdowns. Nic Shimonek threw for 150 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Receiver Jonathan Giles had 4 catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. Four other players caught a touchdown pass.
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Arizona State led Northern Arizona 10-3 at halftime. The Sun Devils would expand the lead to 20-6 by the end of the third. ASU pulled away in the fourth quarter outscoring NAU 24-7 to win 44-13.
Arizona State had 456 total yards including 276 rushing yards and 180 passing yards. Northern Arizona had 425 total yards including 369 passing and 56 rushing yards. The Sun Devils had 27 first downs to 16 for the Lumberjacks. ASU was 8/15 on third and fourth down conversions and NAU was 5/18. Arizona State had 5 penalties for 40 yards and Northern Arizona had 11 for 81 yards. Arizona State had the only two turnovers of the game. The Lumberjacks had possession for 33:34.
Quarterback Manny Wilkins completed 20/27 passes for 180 yards with an interception, along with 14 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown. Running back Demario Richard had 19 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown. Three other Sun Devil players had rushing touchdowns. Receiver Tim White had 9 catches for 95 yards. Thirteen players are listed as questionable or out including six defensive players and four linebackers. Red Raiders are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games in September.
Texas Tech is 5-0-1 ATS in September, 4-1 overall, 7-2 after a straight up win of 20 points or more, 3-1-1 in non-conference games, 6-2 after gaining more than 450 total yards, 5-2-1 after allowing more than 280 passing yards, 9-4-1 after passing for more than 280 passing yards, 2-5 on grass, 3-8 after allowing less than 100 rushing yards, and 0-4 against teams with winning records.
Arizona State is 5-0 ATS overall and after allowing more than 280 yards passing, 4-0 at home and on grass, 4-1 after a cover, 5-2 after allowing less than 20 points, 1-6 after gaining more than 450 total yards and in September, and 0-5 after a straight up win by 20 points or more.
This should be a high scoring shootout between two explosive offenses and subpar defenses. This line opened with Arizona State as a 4 point favorite but it now basically a pick with the Sun Devils as 1 point favorites. I think Texas Tech can certainly pull off the mild road upset.
