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NCAAF PicksSat 10:30 PM ET
Baylor Bears logo
Baylor
Bears
2-1
versus
Arizona St. Sun Devils logo
Arizona St.
Sun Devils
2-1
NCAAF · BAYLOR at ARIZST

Your Picks on Baylor vs Arizona St.

Picks close 15 minutes before game time (ET)
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Baylor vs Arizona St. consensus picks

BAYLOR46%
54%ARIZST

Baylor Bears vs Arizona St. Sun Devils Predictions Today

Game time: October 3, 2026 at 10:30 PM ET

Venue: Mountain America Stadium — Tempe, AZ

Article updated Oct 3, 2:42 AM EDT

By SportsJaw Editorial Team

Arizona State will beat Baylor, 24-20, with its first-half defense providing the strongest reason to favor the Sun Devils at home. Baylor’s pressure should keep the margin close, while Arizona State’s modest offensive production against FBS opponents strengthens the scoring case. Under 48.5 (-110) is the actionable wager at the supplied price; the spread is a Pass.

Baylor Bears vs Arizona St. Sun Devils prediction and best bet

Arizona State gets the nod in a matchup where defensive disruption should matter more than either team’s overall scoring average. The Sun Devils have allowed 121.3 first-half yards per game through three contests. Baylor brings a different threat: 15 sacks through four games, including five against Colorado. Both profiles suggest stretches when sustained offense will be difficult.

Under 48.5 (-110) is the best bet. Baylor has held all four opponents below 20 points, while Arizona State averaged 22.0 points against its two FBS opponents. The Sun Devils’ home setting tips the winner forecast their way, but a projected four-point margin leaves too little separation from Arizona State -3.5 (-110) to recommend the spread.

Odds, game time and how to watch

Game: Baylor at Arizona State, Saturday, October 3, 2026, in Big 12 college football.

Kickoff: Arizona State’s official preview lists 7:30 p.m. Arizona time. Television: ESPN.

Venue: Mountain America Stadium, Tempe, Arizona.

Records: Baylor is 3-1 overall; Arizona State is 2-1. Both are 1-0 in conference play.

SportsJaw spread: Baylor +3.5 (-104); Arizona State -3.5 (-110).

SportsJaw moneyline: Baylor +153; Arizona State -178. Total: Over 48.5 (-110) or Under 48.5 (-110).

Baylor Bears outlook

Baylor’s defense is the main reason to expect a competitive game. Holding its first four opponents below 20 points represents the program’s longest such streak since 2005. The September 26 win over Colorado, 23-13, offered more than a favorable final score: Baylor forced punts on eight of 15 drives and stopped two fourth-down attempts despite allowing 363 total yards.

The Bears recorded five sacks and 13 tackles for loss in that game. Travion Barnes contributed nine tackles and two tackles for loss. Those negative plays are particularly relevant against Cutter Boley: pressure could force Arizona State to spend possessions recovering lost yardage instead of attacking downfield.

Palmer Williams also helped against Colorado, averaging 50.4 yards on seven punts and placing four inside the 20. A repeat would give Baylor another way to make Arizona State work for points, although that performance alone says nothing about a comparative special-teams advantage.

The road transition is the concern. Baylor won its preceding three home games by a combined 68 points, but Tempe is its first true road test. The Baylor Lariat also reported 29 penalties over the previous three weeks. Repeating that indiscipline could waste the opportunities created by the defense.

Arizona St. Sun Devils outlook

Arizona State’s defense supplies the strongest case for a home victory. Through three games, opponents averaged 285.7 total yards and 4.68 yards per play. The Sun Devils allowed 161.3 passing yards per game and a 52.4% completion rate. Opponents converted just 13 of 46 combined third- and fourth-down attempts, or 28.3%.

Those season averages need context. Arizona State beat Morgan State 70-7, lost at Texas A&M 48-20 and beat Kansas 24-17 in London on September 19. Baylor’s official preview puts Arizona State’s yards allowed against FBS opponents at 334.5 per game. That narrower sample tempers the impression created by the overall defensive numbers.

The offensive difference is larger. Arizona State averaged 38.0 points and 426.0 yards overall, compared with 22.0 points and 298.5 yards against its two FBS opponents. Baylor’s preview lists Boley at 32-for-57 passing in those games, with three touchdowns, two interceptions and 174.5 passing yards per game.

Reed Harris offers a substantial receiving threat, with 19 catches for 374 yards and five touchdowns through three games. Arizona State also scored on all eight red-zone trips. That efficiency matters, but eight opportunities remain a small sample, and the record should not be read as eight touchdowns.

Key matchup factors

The critical question is how often Baylor can force Arizona State into long-yardage situations without penalties surrendering the advantage. For the Sun Devils, stopping early drives would make Baylor’s first road outing more demanding. Arizona State’s red-zone scoring offers a counterweight to the Under: defensive resistance between the 20s may still end in points.

At the October 3, 06:25 UTC consensus update, Under led the combined total count 313-288, or 52%. Those counts combine modeled sportsbook selections with SportsJaw participation; they are not observed tickets. SportsJaw members favored Under, while the sportsbook split favored Over at 60%. That disagreement keeps consensus from becoming a strong reason to increase the wager’s confidence.

Baylor Bears vs Arizona St. Sun Devils spread prediction

Spread recommendation: Pass on Arizona State -3.5 (-110) and Baylor +3.5 (-104). The projected Arizona State four-point victory lands just beyond the favorite’s cover threshold, leaving little room for error.

Baylor’s defensive consistency makes taking the points tempting, but a 24-20 forecast would lose that bet. Arizona State’s defensive numbers and home setting favor the Sun Devils, while its FBS offensive production argues against expecting clear separation. The matchup supports a narrow Arizona State win more comfortably than a wager on either supplied spread.

Baylor Bears vs Arizona St. Sun Devils total prediction

Total recommendation: Under 48.5 (-110). Baylor’s four-game scoring-defense streak and Arizona State’s 22.0-point FBS scoring average provide the core case. The Sun Devils’ low opponent conversion rate adds another route to stalled possessions.

The risk is meaningful. Texas A&M scored 48 against Arizona State, and Harris’ five receiving touchdowns show why Baylor cannot assume every drive will require a long series of successful plays. Still, the defensive evidence favors Under at this price. The projected 44 points reinforce that judgment; the projection alone is not the reason to bet.

Baylor Bears vs Arizona St. Sun Devils projected score

Game forecast: Arizona State 24, Baylor 20. Arizona State’s first-half defense and home setting provide the narrow separation between these teams. The forecast allows the Sun Devils to exceed what any of Baylor’s first four opponents scored, so it carries low confidence.

Baylor’s pass rush is the strongest counterargument. Another disruptive performance could overturn the winner forecast, especially if the Bears reduce their penalties. Arizona State’s uneven results and the small FBS sample also limit certainty. The spread remains a Pass on both sides. Under 48.5 (-110) is the single official SportsJaw wager, supported by the defensive matchup rather than a large consensus advantage.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

BAYLOR20

ARIZST24

Projected winner Arizona St. Sun DevilsConfidenceSlight Lean — Arizona St. Sun Devils
Pick on the Spread

Slight Lean — Arizona St. Sun Devils -3.5

Editorial pick at publication: Pass on Arizona St. Sun Devils -3.5 (-110) and Baylor Bears +3.5 (-104)

Pick on the Total

Moderate Lean — Under 48.5

Editorial pick at publication: Under 48.5 (-110)

Sources

  • Sun Devil AthleticsFootball returns home to face Baylor
  • Baylor AthleticsFootball Ventures to Arizona State for Road Clash in Tempe
  • The Baylor LariatBaylor heads west for first conference road game at Arizona State

SportsJaw Bears vs Sun Devils game preview analysis and predictions incorporate current odds, injury reports, team statistics and market data. Information is updated regularly, but lines and player availability can change. Please confirm current information before wagering. View history of past Bears vs Sun Devils matchups or learn how our predictions work.

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