Arizona State Football 2025, preview, prediction, betting ideas
Arizona St
View from afar: Arizona State is coming off one of the most memorable seasons in program history. The 2024 Big 12 champs pushed Texas to the brink in a classic playoff quarterfinal. Kenny Dillingham is entering year 3 and has totally recharged this program. They retain both coordinators and are certainly a favorite for the conference. This team returns a ton from last year's squad, but not their focal point in RB Skattebo. He seemed to be the heart and soul of the team, so how will they move forward without their top dog? Surprisingly, this team only came in at #7 in the 2025 recruiting rankings for the Big 12. They might be higher given Dillingham's insatiable appetite to put this program at the top, though it is a significant increase on the 13th-ranked class of 2024. Upward trajectory. Can this team run back an impressive run, or will Skattebo's absence be too big a presence to replace?
Roster Tidbits: This team returns 4 all Big 12 performers on offense and essentially everyone is back on the line bar 1. Love to continuity here and Udoh, the RB transfer from Army, is tasked with the job of replacing Skattebo. The QB, Leavitt, is an NFL level talent and there are murmurs of even being a #1 overall talent, Tyson the WR is also a likely high NFL draft pick. On top of that the defense brings back almost everyone besides 1 LB.
Statistical tidbits: ASU return the most production in the entire country. Sam Leavitt ranked 17th in the country in PFF pass grade. ASU ranked #1 in the Big 12 in rush grade despite a run blocking grade of 12th, regression in coming with the loss of Skattebo?
Schedule: Arizona St have a low key tricky schedule. At Mississipi St is likely a win, but never fun having to go on the road to an SEC school. Follow that up by a visit from Texas St, a team the Sun Devils could have and probably should have lost to last season. Trips to Baylor, Utah, Iowa St, and Colorado, while also hosting TCU and Texas Tech means this team doesn't avoid many of the top dogs in the conference.
Prediction: While the expectations of this group are sky high, it's difficult to see the Sun Devils repeating last season's lofty heights. I see an 8-4 season for Dillingham and his team, with losses coming at Baylor, at Utah, at TCU, and Texas Tech at home. This group will not make repeat trips to Arlington. After being 6-2 in one score games last season, losing such a significant leader in the team will be too hard to replace.
Actionable: Under 8.5 wins -115 (DK), including the games mentioned above, I could see Mississippi St, Iowa St, at Colorado, and maybeee even Arizona posing this team issues. 8-4 seems a lot more likely than 9-3.
