Arizona State came into this week’s game against the Utah Utes as overwhelming underdogs and put up a good battle until the fourth quarter.
The Utah Utes have been riding high all season long, possibly making the biggest move in ranks of any team in the nation. However, facing the Arizona State Sun Devils isn’t the easiest of tasks, and the Utes quickly found that out.
Saturday night’s game was tightly-contested throughout, but the Utes pulled away in the fourth quarter after a couple of Arizona State miscues, including a costly fumble by Mike Bercovici on a handoff inside his own 30-yard-line.
Both teams played solid, but Bercovici just made too many mistakes at quarterback and the duo of Travis Wilson and Devontae Booker were too powerful when it mattered most. The Utes’ defense is the real deal, too, we can’t forget that.
Three Stars
Travis Wilson had himself a great game, completing 26-of-36 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Utes secure a big win.
Devontae Booker ran the ball 21 times for 118 yards and two touchdowns, capping off a win with a 62-yard score in the fourth.
Who knew the Utes had great receivers? Kenneth Scott caught five passes for 116 yards and one touchdown.
Highlights
".@Utah_Football gets on the board first! Watch #ASUvsUTAH live now on ESPN. http://t.co/fX26n0WD1V— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) October 18, 2015"
".@FootballASU‘s Tim White? #HeGone!!!! #ASUvsUTAH is live now on ESPN! http://t.co/yi9A3dRwDU— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) October 18, 2015"
Kenneth Scott with a one-handed catch in the rain to set up Utah's second touchdown. https://t.co/YhTFTFl0yk
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) October 18, 2015
"Icing on the cake. #BookMode 62 yard TD run! Utes up 34-18 with 1:11 left! #goutes #ASUvsUTAH http://t.co/QyQSjlLTMy— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) October 18, 2015"
Odds
Utah was a four-point favorite heading into this one and it was close throughout, but the Utes pulled away in the end, eventually beating the spread. The over/under was 51.5 which ended up being the perfect projection as the two teams barely got the over thanks to a late Devontae Booker touchdown.
Next Week
Arizona State will have a week off and then the Sun Devils will host a reeling, yet dangerous, Oregon team on Oct. 29. Any win over ranked teams and perceived conference powerhouses will help the Sun Devils’ cause to get back into the Top 25.
Utah also gets a struggling Pac-12 foe next week as the Utes will travel a little west to take on USC after the Trojans fell short once again this week against Notre Dame. A win there will keep the Utes in Pac-12 title contention — obviously.