Cactus Bowl
Sun Devil Stadium - Tempe, AZ
Kickoff: Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET
Line: West Virginia -1.5, Total: 64

Arizona State will try to avoid a losing season on Saturday night when it hosts West Virginia in the Cactus Bowl at Chase Field, which is located just 11 miles from the Tempe campus.

The Sun Devils had preseason expectations to play in a greater January bowl, but have allowed 32.7 PPG this season, and a hefty 559 total YPG over the past three contests. The Mountaineers have surrendered 34.0 PPG and 452 total YPG away from home, where they are 1-4 (SU and ATS). But in the past three games, they have held opponents to 10.0 PPG and 270 total YPG. ASU prefers to throw the football (289 YPG), while WVU has great balance (235 rush YPG, 228 pass YPG). There are plenty of reasons for bettors to choose either side on Saturday night, as the Sun Devils are 10-1 ATS since 1992 off a road cover where the team lost as an underdog, and their opponent falls under the category of teams coming off an ATS loss to an opponent with 3+ straight ATS wins going 19-50 ATS (28%) when the line is +3 to -3. The Mountaineers are 8-4 ATS under head coach Dana Holgorsen versus poor passing defenses (250+ YPG allowed) and their Saturday opponent is 10-22 ATS on the road versus good rushing teams (4.75+ YPC) since 1992. Both teams will be a tad short-handed for this matchup, as WVU will not have three players due to academics (WR Jovon Durante, DE Eric Kinsey and CB Daryl Worley), while DL Yodny Cajuste (foot) is questionable. ASU has two players out due to disciplinary reasons (DL Deonte Reynolds and DB Jayme Otomewo) while two others are questionable in TE Grant Martinez (knee) and LB Nick Ralston (undisclosed).

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West Virginia's offense hasn't faltered much this season with 33.2 PPG on 463 total YPG. The club prefers to keep the ball on the ground, as 61% of their plays are hand-offs, and the ball usually goes to junior RB Wendell Smallwood (1,447 rush yds, 6.4 YPC, 9 TD). He has amassed eight 110-yard rushing efforts this season, with five of those games resulting in at least 140 yards. The team is better off when junior QB Skyler Howard (55% completions, 2,613 pass yds, 7.4 YPA, 21 TD, 12 INT) doesn't drop back much, as the team is 0-4 when Howard attempts at least 35 passes and 6-0 when he throws less than 30 times. Howard is also a capable ball carrier with 479 rushing yards and six touchdowns, and junior RB Rushel Shell (677 rush yds, 4.5 YPC, 8 TD) provides some serious power with his 5-foot-10, 221-pound frame. The Mountaineers defense has been up-and-down this season, surrendering 34.0 PPG on 452 total YPG on the road, but limiting its last three opponents to 10.0 PPG on 270 total YPG. The unit is giving up 164 rushing YPG on 4.0 YPC, while it allows 223 passing YPG on 6.8 YPA. However, the WVU defense ranks second in the nation with 23 interceptions and has limited opposing quarterbacks to a paltry 51% completion rate. The unit has forced a total of 31 turnovers this season, including 14 in the past four games, but will be hard-pressed to force mistakes from the Sun Devils, who have committed only 10 turnovers in the past eight contests.

Arizona State's offense averaged a healthy 34.0 PPG and 474 total YPG this season, but offensive coordinator Mike Norvell departed to become the next Memphis head coach. That leaves offensive line coach Chris Thomsen as the play-caller for Saturday. On the year, the Sun Devils are greatly balanced with 42 rushes per game and 40 passes per contest. While they are much more effective through the air with 289 YPG on 7.2 YPA, the ground game chews up a solid 185 YPG on 4.4 YPC. Top RB Demario Richard (1,050 rush yds, 5.3 YPC, 7 TD) is finishing strong with four 100-yard rushing games in the past five contests, while No. 1 WR Devin Lucien (57 rec, 930 yds, 7 TD) has racked up 17 catches for 391 yards and 4 TD in his past two games. He and four others have caught at least three touchdown passes from QB Mike Bercovici (60% completions, 3,442 pass yds, 7.2 YPA, 26 TD, 9 INT), who has also run for six scores. The heady senior has thrown for at least 230 yards in 11 straight games and has 7 TD passes and only one interception in his past three contests. The Sun Devils defense isn't very good, as evidenced by its 32.7 PPG on 446 total YPG, which includes 322 passing YPG on 8.3 YPA. However, the front seven thrives against the run (125 YPG on 3.6 YPC) and has also put major pressure on quarterbacks with 44 sacks and 101 Tackles For Loss. But this heavy blitzing has also led to big games for opponents, such as California QB Jared Goff's 542 passing yards and five touchdown throws in the regular-season finale. Arizona State has forced eight turnovers in the past three games, but is playing an opponent with only nine giveaways during its past seven contests.