Game Time: 7:30 ET, Saturday, October 2nd, 2021 

Venue: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

Where to Watch: FS1

DraftKings:  Spread: UCLA -3:  O/U: 55.5

Circa:  Spread:  UCLA -3:  O/U: 55.5

Caesars:  Spread: UCLA -3.5:  O/U: 55.5

Sun Devils:  3-1 (PAC-12)

Bruins:  3-1 (PAC-12)

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RECENT FORM

Arizona State went 5-1 in the 2020 season filled with Covid-19 issues.  Head Coach Herm Edwards has his team ready to play again this year.  They opened against Southern Utah for an easy 41-14 win.  Game 2 was another walk in the park against UNLV 37-10.  Game 3 saw the Arizona State offense stall against BYU and they lost 27-17.  Game 4 the Sun Devils regained for and beat Colorado 35-13. 

UCLA is off to a better start than in recent years.  Head Coach Chip Kelly has been there long enough that the squad is finally made of the players he recruited and nurtured.  They are missing a Heisman style quarterback like in the good ol’ days… but just wait… just wait.  The Bruins opened the season by stomping on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 44-10, that game took place in the mythic Week Zero, a week before everyone else started playing.  Game 2 brought a shocking win that served as solid proof to Westwood and the world that Chip Kelly is building something, they beat LSU 38-27.  Game 3 caught UCLA either napping or looking ahead or underestimating Fresno State and UCLA lost 40-37.  Game 4 saw UCLA take down long time Pac-12 rival Stanford 35-24.

 The Pac-12 South is not considered the tough division in the Pac-12, but Arizona State and UCLA are trying to change all that.  They both have former pro-coaches who have implemented a pro style passing game.  Both schools have their sights set on building a top program that will one day get invited to the top Bowls in January.  Now they play each other and one of these programs will lose and lose all this great momentum.

Arizona State’s offense is scoring 33 points a game on 437.8 yards per game.  They look sharp! QB Jayden Daniels is 69-95 for 808 yards, 2 TDs, and 3 interceptions.  He has been sacked 5 times, but we can’t blame the offensive line for all those… Jayden is a scrambler.  He moves the pocket and takes off when the defense gives him an opening.  He has 248 yards rushing… just 8 less than RB Rachaad White, the team’s leading rusher.  Rachaad doesn’t mind, he also leads the team in receiving yards 187 (1 more than WR LV Bunkley-Shelton) and the team has 5 other receivers with more than 100 yards.  They look sharp!

The UCLA offense is firing on all cylinders under the guidance of Chip Kelly, that is his talent.  The Bruins are scoring 39 points per game on 428 yards per game. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson has a 57% completion percentage, but he too is a scrambler who gets some positive yardage out of busted plays 118 yards on the season.  Zach Charbonnet and Brittain Brown split the rushing duties and have 360 and 263 yards respectively… but this is a passing team and wide receiver Kyle Phillips is the recipient. He has caught 16 passes for an average of 18 ½ yards a piece.

The Sun Devils are ranked 21st in defense.  They give up only 16 points a game. Linebackers Darien Butler and Kyle Soelle have 27 and 25 tackles respectively. They stop quite a bit at the line.  Darien has 2 sacks. The team has totalled 12 sacks, 5 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery.   They are tough and ready.

The UCLA defense is good but not as tough as Arizona State.  They are ranked 81st in total defense in the FBS.  They give up 394.2 yards per game and have surrendered 12 touchdowns so far. They have played tough offenses though, LSU was the national Champion in 2019 and Fresno State puts everything they have on the offense.  Maybe the ranking gets better as the season goes on… or maybe they will have to be in marathon shootouts every game.

Our prediction for Saturday, October 2nd is…  UCLA 41 - ASU 21

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ASU is 8-15 ATS as a road underdog of 3 points or less since 1993.

ASU is 5-1 ATS as an underdog over the last three seasons.

UCLA is 5-2 off a win against a conference rival the last three seasons.

Sun Devils:  QB Jayden Daniels, RB Rachaad White, TE Curtis Hodges, WR Andre Johnson, WR Johnny Wilson, WR Ricky Pearsall, LT Kellen Diesch, LG LaDarius Henderson, C Dohnovan West, RG Henry Hattis, RT Ben Scott

Bruins:  QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, RB Brittain Brown, TE Greg Dulcich, WR Chase Cota, WR Kam Brown, WR Kyle Phillips, LT Sean Rhyan, LG Paul Grattan Jr, C Duke Clemens, RG Jon Gaines, RT Alec Anderson

Sun Devils:

Passing: Jayden Daniels 808 yards

Rushing: Rachaad White 262 yards

Receiving:  Rachaad White 187 yards

Tackles:   D.  Butler 17

Sacks: D. Butler  2

Bruins:

Passing: Dorian Thompson-Robinson 919 yards

Rushing: Zach Charbonnet 360 yards

Receiving:  Kyle Philips 294 yards

Tackles:  Qwuantrezz  Knight  21

Sacks:  Qwuantrezz  Knight  2

ASU:  Herm Edwards

UCLA: Chip Kelly

Sunny.  89* for the high.  Humidity 16%.  Wind 7 mph.