Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Arizona State Sun Devils: Odds, Analysis and Pick

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish must enjoy their trips out west, considering they're 7-2 against the spread in their last nine games visiting Pac-12 teams.

The Arizona State Sun Devils, meanwhile, may be on their way to another Pac-12 Championship Game, but they've also been a bit overrated at home recently, going just 1-4 ATS over their last five games in Tempe. So the Golden Domers might have the betting trends on their side when they hit the field at Sun Devil Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Point spread: Sun Devils opened as one-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 35.3-32.9 Sun Devils

Why the Notre Dame Fighting Irish can cover the spread

The Irish are 7-1 straight up and 5-3 ATS and could be undefeated if not for that offensive pass interference call that negated a game-winning touchdown against Florida State a couple weeks ago. Notre Dame outgained the Seminoles by almost 150 yards and outrushed them 157-50. Last week, the Irish outlasted Navy 49-39, although they couldn't quite cover as 14-point favorites.

After a year off, quarterback Everett Golson is having a fine season with 22 touchdown passes against seven interceptions and seven touchdowns on the ground. Notre Dame is now 17-2 SU and 11-7-1 ATS in games Golson has started. Finally, the Irish beat the Sun Devils last year without Golson 37-34 down at Cowboys Stadium.

Why the Arizona State Sun Devils can cover the spread

The Sun Devils own first place in the Pac-12 South after last week's 19-16 overtime victory over Utah. ASU got some help from the Utes in the form of a missed field goal in the overtime, but it also outgained Utah 444-241. Quarterback Taylor Kelly didn't look great in his second game back after missing time with a foot injury, but he made a couple of key throws, and the running game came up with 239 yards.

So since getting blown out by UCLA, the Sun Devils have beaten, in succession, USC, Stanford, Washington and Utah, three of which were ranked at the time. Also, while Arizona State lost to Notre Dame last year, that game was tied at 27-27 with less than four minutes to go.

Smart pick

Arizona State may own an edge on offense, but Notre Dame, despite losing leading tackler Joe Schmidt, still owns the edge on defense. And Golson provides the playmaking factor that gives the Irish the overall edge in this matchup. So the smart money goes with the Golden Domers.

Betting trends

• Notre Dame is 4-2 ATS in its last six games on the road.
• Arizona State is 1-5 ATS in its last six games at home.

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds-tracker app.