Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines for BYU vs. Arizona State

By winning out, Colorado and BYU both have control over their own Big 12 title fate.

There is a chance that the Cougars’ loss to Kansas last week was just a blip in what is been a great surprise season. The game ended 17–13, and the defense played well.

This game is for the Big 12 Championship. If you win, Iowa State will lose to Utah, or if you win, you will beat Houston next week.

Arizona State is able to get there. To get to the Big 12 title game, it needs to win this game and beat Arizona next week. If Iowa State loses to Utah this week, it should also make it there.

But it does not matter what—Kenny Dillingham has had a great season. ASU has won three straight games at home and has not lost yet. If they beat the Cougars, this could be a really special season.

BYU vs Arizona State: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Game Time: 3:30 pm ET
How To Watch: ESPN
Venue: Mountain America Stadium, Tempe, AZ
Teams: Arizona State (8-2), BYU (9-1)

Why BYU Will Win

People liked to say that something magical was going on at BYU, but that is not quite right. Before it was -1 against Kansas last week, it had a turnover margin thing going on.

There are 22 takeaways for the defense this year, which is a lot. But more importantly, the defense is great at stopping the run. Arizona State is a strong team that wants to hit the ball at least 40 times.

Few teams have been able to get 40 carries, but BYU has been strong enough to win most of them. Hold up against the run and make sure that quarterback Sam Leavitt does not complete about 60% of his passes. This will stay tight the whole time. But…

Why Arizona State Will Win

BYU continues to be awful offensively on third downs.

The team has a way of controlling the clock and the time of possession battle, but it can’t move the chains. It only converted one of 12 tries against Utah, last week it struggled going 3-for-10 against Kansas, and on the year it’s only converting at a 32% clip.

There’s a bigger problem for BYU. Actually, there are three of them. Arizona State doesn’t turn the ball over, it’s fantastic on third downs, and keeps the ball for about 32 minutes per game.

BYU vs Arizona State: Who Will Win?

Oklahoma State ran for over seven yards per carry, but BYU was able to beat them. UCF ran for over six yards per carry, and Utah, which has not been its usual self, was able to pound away.

Arizona State does not get a lot of yards per carry, but Cam Skattebo getting four-yard runs over and over again is a great way to keep drives going.

For the most part, BYU’s defense will hold up. But in the second half, when ASU keeps converting third down after third down, it will start to fall apart.