Bet Arizona State Sun Devils – Poor Offense Will Doom Sun Devils Once Again

2009 Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Recap

Arizona State’s online betting odds heading into 2009 weren’t all that great, and routs over lowly Idaho State and Louisiana-Monroe weren’t going to do much to improve them.  Then the Sun Devils had to start playing Division I teams and it was pretty much downhill from there, although to their credit the Sun Devils only got blown out twice.  Arizona State fell by a field goal at then-No.21 Georgia, then by 11 at home against Oregon State, but they managed to beat Washington State in a clash of the Pac-10’s worst teams, and they even upset Washington with a late 50-yard touchdown pass.  However, that was the final highlight of the 2009 campaign for the Sun Devils, who ended the year with six consecutive losses.  Arizona State fell 33-14 at Stanford, then lost a pair of home games against California and USC by a combined seven points.  The Sun Devils were then thumped at Oregon, their third straight game against a ranked opponent, which was followed by a 10-point loss at UCLA.  Arizona State was finally put out of their misery with a 20-17 loss at home to Arizona in the “Duel in the Desert”. 

Betting on the Sun Devils was tough to gauge last season because they wasted one of the best defenses in the country.  The Arizona State defense was 13th in the country, but when your offense is 90th, it feels like you’re running in quicksand.  Danny Sullivan was terrible under center, which put a lot of pressure on running back Dmitri Nance, and the offensive line wasn’t that great either.  Linebacker Mike Nixon marshaled the Arizona State defense, but freshman Vontaze Burfict was a physical force, although he needs to work on his discipline.

2010 Preview To Bet Arizona State Sun Devils  

If you want to bet on the Sun Devils’ NCAA football betting odds this season, you’re going to be banking on a retooled offense.  Coach Dennis Erickson changed offensive coordinators and the Sun Devils are going to try and work faster.   Steven Threet transferred from Michigan to get away from a spread offense, but it looks like Arizona State is trying to work elements of the spread into their attack, so that will be interesting to watch.  The Sun Devils also have to replace their starting wideouts for 2009, which could be another thing that bothers Threet.  The offensive line has to improve as well as the Sun Devils were 79th in sacks allowed.  Burfict may step into Nixon’s role as the leader of the defense, but he has to learn when to hold back sometimes.  Three starters are back up front, and they may have to put more pressure on the opposing quarterback as the secondary could be the weak link of the defense, due to inexperience.

The Sun Devils will start off with Portland State and Northern Arizona, then they head east to Wisconsin before welcoming Oregon to town.  A run of three straight road games will probably derail the Sun Devils’ season as they head to Oregon State, Washington and Cal, followed by a visit from Washington State and a trip to USC.  Arizona State will host Stanford and UCLA before their regular-season finale, another edition of the “Duel in the Desert” at Arizona. 

Those looking to bet on the Sun Devils are probably looking at another four-win season, possibly five if they can pull out an upset somewhere along the line.  The Arizona State offense can’t be anemic as they were last year, but is Threet really the man to change everything?  The Sun Devils also have to replace Nance’s ability out of the backfield, and the lack of receivers could be a problem.  The defense will be solid enough, but it’s always dangerous to have corners that don’t have much experience with the influx of the spread offense in the NCAA.  Sports betting players shouldn’t expect much from Arizona State this season.