Arizona State Sun Devils at USC Trojans Betting Preview
The Arizona State Sun Devils (6-10, 2-4 Pac-12) battle the #16 USC Trojans (16-2, 6-2 Pac-12) on Monday night in a Pac-12 showdown in SoCal. ASU looks to rebound after a 79-76 loss at Stanford on Saturday, while the Trojans look for their third win in a row after victories over Colorado (61-58) and Utah (79-67) last week.
Monday’s tip-off is at 11 p.m. EST inside the Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. USC is a 13.5-point favorite over the Sun Devils, and the over-under total is at 134.5 points.
What to Know – Arizona State Sun Devils
ASU has lost four of their last five games and is now sitting near the bottom of the Pac-12 standings looking up. The Sun Devils sit in ninth in the Pac-12 and rank 123rd in the KenPom.
On offense, the Sun Devils score 63.6 points per game behind 39.6 percent shooting from the floor and 27.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Arizona State’s defense limits opponents to 68.2 points, 40.7 percent shooting from the field, and 34.3 percent from three.
The Sun Devils erased a 15-point deficit to claw their way back against Stanford on Saturday, but with the game tied, a foul on a 3-point try with one-second remaining gave the hosts three free throws to clinch the game. DJ Horne led the Sun Devils with 18 points, and Jalen Graham came off the bench to add 16.
Arizona State is 7-8-1 against the spread but 4-1 ATS in true road contests. The Sun Devils are 0-6 ATS over their previous six against the Trojans.
What to Know – USC Trojans
The Trojans won their first 13 games of the year and have picked up victories in three of their last four recently. USC sits one game back of Arizona in the conference race and ranks 23rd in the KenPom.
USC averages 74.8 points per game thanks to 47.4 percent shooting from the floor and 35.2 percent shooting from three. The Trojans’ defense holds opposing teams to 63.4 points, 37.0 percent shooting from the field, and 31.9 percent from the arc.
Drew Peterson couldn’t miss Saturday, connecting on 9-of-10 shots from the field, including a perfect 5-5 from the 3-point line, in a 12-point victory over Utah. Boogie Ellis chipped in 18 points, and the Trojans shot 50.9 percent as a team. USC’s defense limited the Utes to just 36.1 percent shooting on offense.
The Trojans sport a 10-8 record ATS and a 3-5 mark on their home floor. USC is 0-5 ATS in their last five games at home.
The Pick is In
Arizona State will play Monday night’s game with head coach Bobby Hurley and guard Jay Heath after a heated confrontation with officials following their loss to Utah. The Sun Devils are the lowest-scoring team in the Pac-12 and will struggle against USC’s stingy defense. The Trojans pull away early, and the Sun Devils pack it in.
Betting Pick: USC Trojans -13.5
