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Georgia Arizona State Odds

Written by Jimmy Boyd on September 18, 2008

The Georgia Bulldogs head to the desert to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils in a matchup that was supposed to be one of the better non-conference battles of the season. It still might be, but Arizona State’s surprising loss to UNLV in overtime last week has caused this one to lose some of its luster. Still odds makers do not foresee a blowout by any means. JustBet sportsbook has the listed the home Sun Devils as 7-point underdogs and set the total at 50.5.

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It isn’t often you see the Bulldogs outside of SEC territory. In fact, this game marks the first time Georgia has been as far west as Tempe, Arizona for a regular season game since 1960 when the Bulldogs were defeated 10-3 at USC. The Bulldogs have haven’t traveled this far for any game since playing in Honolulu in the 2008 Oahu Bowl.

Georgia head man Mark Richt was hoping he might get a little more notice for finally heading west, but ASU’s loss last week certainly down plays this matchup to some extent. This game will mark the first the first time Georgia has left SEC territory in the regular season during Richt’s seven-plus season at the helm and the coach couldn’t be more unfamiliar with the Pac-10. Georgia has not played a Pac-10 team since a home win over Oregon State in 1987 and it has never faced the Sun Devils.

Richt’s intentions with this game was to show that he has a team to be reckoned with.
Georgia had some struggles of its own last Saturday though. After scoring 101 points in blowout wins over Georgia Southern and Central Michigan, the Bulldogs were held to 252 total yards in a 14-7 victory at South Carolina.

Heisman Trophy candidate Knowshon Moreno was held to 79 yards on 20 carries after entering the game with a lofty 8.7 yards per carry average. QB Matt Stafford threw for a season low 146 yards as well and was sacked four times. If you think the Bulldogs can get back to playing strong football this week, bet Georgia at -7 at BetUS and receive up to a 50% sign up bonus.

It appears Arizona State was caught looking ahead against UNLV, a team which has only amassed two wins in each of the past four seasons. That could actually play to ASU’s advantage this week and they’ll be out for revenge rather than flying high off a win.

The pollsters inked the Sun Devils in as the 15th ranked team in the land in the preseason, but they had no problem dropping them clear out of the top 25 following last week’s loss.

The key to winning this week will be to protect QB Rudy Carpenter. The Sun Devils are 7-9 when Carpenter, a four-year starter, has been sacked more than three times, compared to 19-3 when he isn’t. Carpenter was sacked just twice last week, but he also only attempted 23 passes which was his fewest attempts in his last 13 games. It is likely that he’ll get more opportunities this week.

Carpenter tops the Pac-10 with 975 passing yards and a 71.3 percent completion rate heading into this game and he could be the key to knocking off the third ranked Dawgs. Georgia is second-to-last in the SEC in pass defense allowing 236.3 yards per game. The Sun Devils lead the Pac-10 with 324.7 yards per game through the air.

The Bulldogs know they will need to pressure Carpenter to have success against them and they were very successful in getting to QB’s a season ago. Georgia returns nine defensive starters from a unit which led the SEC with 42 sacks last season, but they only have six thus far in 2008. If you think the Sun Devils passing attack can get them a cover this week, bet Arizona State at +7 at Bookmaker and receive up to a 20% cash signup bonus.

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