Arizona State-Texas: Holiday Bowl Betting Preview

The Holiday Bowl features Texas and Arizona State.

Texas is 9-3 straight up, while Arizona State is 10-2. The Sun Devils have dropped four in a row against the spread, going under 4-of-5.

In fact, ASU has gone under 9-of-12 for the year.

Texas enters the game having gone over three straight.

OffshoreInsiders.com popular sports betting previews based on articles around the Internet tells us that Arizona State will have the partisan crowd. At least 20,000 Sun Devil faithful are expected, including many who purchased tickets from the Longhorns ticket office.

Texas is as healthy as they’ve been all year on defense. They ranked 109th in pass defense in the country. However, the improved and healthy pass rush means bad news for an ASU team that has allowed 51 sacks.

Our bowl previews  told you that Texas is slightly better offensively, but Arizona State is better in the air. The Longhorns amass 52 more yards per game on .8 more yards per play. Texas tallies 1.5 more yards per rush. However, it’s ASU that accrues .4 more passing yards per attempt and .7 more passing yards per reception.

Contrary to the stereotype of the Pac-10, the Sun Devils allow 3.3 fewer first downs per game, 35.9 fewer yards, and .2 fewer yards per play. Texas, though, allows 7.8 fewer yards per rush.

The Longhorns get the edge in rushing yards allowed per attempt by .6. ASU has significant superiority in passing percentage allowed by 10.1, and turnover ratio by 10.

Texas is 6-3 straight up in bowls under Mack Brown.

More sports betting trends (all records against the spread):

The Longhorns, despite the aforesaid straight up success in the postseason, are only 1-6 their last seven as bowl favorites. ASU is 10-4 in non-conference tilts. The Sun Devils have gone under 12 of their last 15 going back to last season.

Get the point-spread winners for all bowl games at OffshoreInsiders.com