Welcome to Week 2 of college football, fellow sports investors. There's nothing like a Saturday packed with lots of fun matchups like we have on this weekend's card. I've found some betting value on Saturday night's Arizona State vs Mississippi State game, which kicks off at 7:30 PM Eastern Time on ESPN2.
I've broken down this matchup from every angle and came up with an early best bet for your wagering pleasures. Good luck and enjoy the game! This should be a fun one to watch!
Online sportsbooks opened this line at Arizona State -7 on Sunday afternoon. There hasn't been much appetite for either side, as most sportsbooks still list that same opening line as of early Monday morning. You'd have to think the betting public would be interested in laying the points with the highly ranked Sun Devils in this one.
As for the game total, there hasn't been much on that front either. The line opened at 59, and almost every sportsbook in the US is still dealing that number. The only exception right now is DraftKings, which is currently offering 58.5
The Bulldogs had a rough go of it in Jeff Lebby's first season at the helm, as they finished at just 2-10 a year ago. The program has been in a state of disarray after former head coach Mike Leach passed away suddenly from a heart attack. Lebby brought in a ton of transfers to try and right the ship in 2025.
Miss St brought in Blake Shapen from Baylor, and he looked pretty good in Week 1 against Southern Miss. He threw for 270 yards and a TD for the Dawgs in a 34-17 win. The RB combo of Fluff Bothwell and Davon Booth combined for 123 rushing yards and 3 TDs, so Zona State had better be ready to stop that 2-headed monster.
2024 was a banner year for the Sun Devils, as they finished 11-3 and made the College Football Playoff. Kenny Dillingham proved that he was the right hire all season long, and he and his squad nearly upset Texas in the Peach Bowl on New Year's Day.
Arizona State will once again be a good squad this year, especially since Sam Leavitt is back at QB. This kid is a stud, but he no longer has his running mate, Cam Skattebo, behind him at RB. Keep in mind that AZ State beat Miss State last year by just 6 points on their home field.
Here's another line that flat out stinks! Why is the No. 11 team in the country only laying a TD against lowly Mississippi State, who went just 2-10 last year? I'll tell you why! Because Starkville is a tough place to play, and this Bulldogs team is going to be better than people think this season.
Asking the Devils to cover a full TD on the road with all of that cowbell noise is a tall order. Let's take the points with the Dawgs in this one. I'll also be sprinkling the moneyline on them as well. Good luck!
Prediction: Mississippi State 31 - Arizona State 28