Arizona State vs. NAU: A Week 1 Showdown
College football is back, and Week 1 features an intriguing in-state battle between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. The game takes place at ASU's Mountain America Stadium, promising an exciting atmosphere for fans.
Predictions Favor the Sun Devils
Oddsmakers heavily favor Arizona State, with BetMGM Sportsbook setting the Sun Devils as a 28.5-point favorite. The moneyline reflects this dominance, with ASU at -10000 and NAU at +3000. The over/under is set at 52.5 points.
Several analysts predict a comfortable victory for Arizona State. The Arizona Republic forecasts a 45-20 win for the Sun Devils, while Dimers.com gives ASU a staggering 97% win probability. ESPN echoes this sentiment, assigning the Lumberjacks only a 2.2% chance of pulling off an upset. Fansided predicts a 42-14 victory for ASU.
NAU's Momentum and New Coach
Despite the predictions, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks enter the season with palpable momentum. Head coach Brian Wright led the team to an 8-5 record last season, their first winning season in a non-COVID year since 2017. The Lumberjacks were also ranked in the FCS coaches’ poll.
NAU's Key Player: Quarterback Ty Pennington
A significant part of NAU's success last season was the play of quarterback Ty Pennington, who won the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year award. His performance will be crucial if the Lumberjacks hope to challenge the Sun Devils.
NAU Navigates Changes
Northern Arizona University President José Luis Cruz Rivera recently addressed the institution's direction, focusing on federal policy changes and technological advancements as key challenges. NAU is focusing on advocacy, paused plans for a college of medicine, and has no plans to cut positions or increase workloads.
While the Sun Devils are expected to win, the Lumberjacks' recent success and the excitement surrounding their program make this Week 1 matchup one to watch.