The Arizona State Sun Devils and BYU Cougars meet on Saturday in Provo as both teams look to build some late-season momentum in the Big 12 race.
BYU returns home after suffering its first loss of the season in a 39-31 double-overtime stunner at UCF, dropping the Cougars to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 play. Meanwhile, Arizona State improved to 4-3 and 2-2 in conference play with a 28-17 win over Kansas State.
The biggest question for Arizona State is at quarterback, where Mikey Keene is questionable after suffering a knee injury against Kansas State. If Keene can’t go, freshman Jake Fette is expected to make his first career start in one of the toughest road environments in the Big 12.
For BYU, this is all about the response. The Cougars still have everything in front of them in the Big 12 race, but after a disappointing defensive performance at UCF, there is little room for another slip-up.
Here is everything you need to know about Arizona State vs. BYU in Week 9, including the latest odds, our prediction and game pick.
BYU vs. Arizona State Odds
- Spread: BYU -16.5
- Over/Under: 48.5
- Moneyline: BYU -780/Arizona State +550
Odds as of Tuesday afternoon. Odds are subject to change.
The Biggest Question: Will BYU Bounce Back?
BYU returns home after their undefeated season came to an end vs. UCF. But are they set for a bounce-back game? Where the Cougars really struggled in Orlando was in the running game, where they only racked up 116 yards on the ground. It was evident that LJ Martin was missing in this game. The Cougars’ defense also didn’t get much pressure on Keyone Jenkins. Can that change this week against the Sun Devils? Arizona State is giving up 4.5 yards per carry, which is the second-worst in the Big 12, compared to UCF, who is Top 5 in the Big 12 in yards allowed per rush. The numbers suggest a BYU bounce back is highly likely.
BYU vs. Arizona State Prediction and Pick
Prediction: BYU 34, Arizona State 23
BYU is back in their friendly confines in Provo. That’s a good start for BYU to get the bounce back that they need. But, when I look at the Cougars, I see a team that remains stout on defense, but the loss of LJ Martin may become more obvious as the season progresses. On top of that, BYU is just not traditionally a team that is going to blow out its opponents. And while Arizona State has three losses by 28, 36 and 28 points, there’s a chance that the Sun Devils can keep this one within the margin.
They’ll need to use some of the tactics UCF did last week, especially if they’re turning to freshman quarterback Jake Fette. A true freshman, Fette was a four-star and the No. 11 quarterback in the 2026 class out of El Paso Del Valle High School in El Paso, Texas. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound passer posted a 60:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio during his final two seasons in high school, accounting for over 10,000 yards of offense during that time. And speaking of freshman, Arizona State running back Cardae Mack ran for four touchdowns and over 150 yards last week vs. K-State. The Sun Devils will need to get him going as well this week to have a chance.
In the end, BYU is just the much better team, even without Martin. Arizona State has had issues on both sides of the ball, and now they go back on the road to one of the toughest places to play in the Big 12 taking on an angry team coming off its first loss of the season. However, the dual-threat nature of Fette, combined with ASU starting to find a running game, along with some issues for BYU that may persist beyond this weekend leads me to believe the Sun Devils can cover this big number. It’s the largest spread, by far, that BYU has had to try and cover against a Power 4 team this season. That being said, I’d also feel better getting this number up to 17. But I’m going to take it.
BYU wins. Arizona State covers.
