The 2023 edition of the “Duel in the Desert” will take place on Saturday afternoon when the 15^th-ranked Arizona Wildcats travel to Tempe, Arizona to face the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium with the game kicking off at 3:30 PM ET and will air on ESPN in week 13 of the college football season.

Arizona has been one of the most surprising teams this season in the Pac-12 as they enter this game with a record of 8-3 and have a conference record of 6-2 which puts them in 3^rd place in the Pac-12 Conference while having won their previous five games in a row including last week’s 42-18 win at home against the Utah Utes. The Wildcats have been an above-average team in terms of scoring and scoring defense this season as they are averaging 32.09 points per game while allowing an average of 20.64 points per game. Tetairoa McMillan has been one of the best wide receivers in the Pac-12 this season and has played a pivotal role in the success that the passing offense has had this season as he enters this game with 69 receptions for 976 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Arizona State Sun Devils will miss bowl season for the 2^nd season in a row as they enter this game with a record of 3-8 which includes a record of 2-6 in conference play. The offense has been one of the reasons the team has struggled this season as they enter this game averaging the 5^th fewest points per game in college football with an average of 17.27 points per game and have one of the worst rushing offenses as they are averaging 100.91 rushing yards per game which is the 11^th fewest rushing yards per game this season. The scoring defense has been below average as well as they are allowing an average of 29.36 points per game. Things won’t get any easier for Arizona State against their in-state rivals as they will be facing one of the best teams in the conference when they host the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday afternoon.

BookMaker has the Arizona Wildcats listed as 13-point favorites on the road against the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday afternoon in week 13 of the college football season. Arizona State has won seven of the last ten and two of the last three meetings while going 6-4 ATS in the last ten and covering the spread in three straight meetings against Arizona. The Arizona Wildcats are 9-2 ATS overall, 3-2 ATS on the road, 3-2 ATS as a favorite, and 6-2 ATS in conference games while the Arizona State Sun Devils are 5-5-1 ATS overall, 2-4-1 ATS at home, 5-4-1 ATS as an underdog, and 5-2-1 ATS in conference games on the year.

Arizona is the superior team in terms of talent this season and has been the best team at covering the spread in the Pac-12 as they are 9-2 ATS overall and 6-2 ATS in conference games while Arizona State is 5-5-1 ATS overall and 2-4-1 ATS at home. As a result, I am laying the points with the Wildcats when they travel to face the Sun Devils in week 13 of the college football season.