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Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

NCAAF futures, Arizona State win totals: Will Sun Devils get back on track?

By Matt Wiesenfeld | Last updated 6/20/23

Arizona State has hit the reset button with the hiring of young coach Kenny Dillingham. Considered one of the brightest offensive minds in the sport, he has created some instant buzz in Tempe. It has been a while since Arizona State was truly relevant and they won just three games a year ago. They have a lot of work to do, especially with Arizona improving in their own backyard.

The Pac-12 is in flux right now with some schools commanding outside interest as relocation candidates. Arizona State's fall on the gridiron has left them out of those recent talks but they have always been considering a sleeping giant because it is a "great place" to go to school and their location lets them recruit from California and Texas.

This is a critical season in getting the program back on track.

2023 Arizona State Sun Devils Win Total

Over 4.5 -150 / Under 4.5 +120

In looking at the numbers above there is a "consensus" in the marketplace that the Sun Devils should be improved. That is easy to get behind given what we saw last season and the fact that they have moved to someone who seems to be more in touch with the modern college game at head coach. It is hard to tie up your dough for that long for that payoff though. I prefer the value on the under. While Dillingham is very promising, this is still his first go as a head coach and this team has turned over a ton of its roster. Probably for the better, but consistency still has some value.

I think the Pac-12 is going to be strong this season so a nine-game league schedule does not help them a ton in terms of showing improvement. They do get Cal, who is probably the worst team in the league, but that game is on the road, and it is after they play USC so they could be beat up a little. ASU is one of a bunch of teams looking to establish themselves as mid-tier and they get a few of them at home - Washington State, Colorado, and rival Arizona. I am not sure they are further in their progression than the last two programs though and home field can only do so much. Outside of the Pac-12, only the opener against Southern Utah looks like a gimme. They do have all of their nonconference games at Sun Devil Stadium though (Oklahoma State and Fresno State follow).

The majority of starters return on offense this season but it is not clear they have what they need at quarterback. The options are good, but some of the best QBs in the game are in the Pac-12 this season so uncertainty at that position is concerning. The offense should build throughout the season under Dillingham, and this team should be harder to beat late. The defense is probably about the same as it was a year ago which is nothing special. I think we will see some improvements in the vibes around the team even if they are not translating those into wins. This line is tight right now, but I would lean to the under and the better payoff.

Take the under.

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