Sometimes teams enter a bowl game not wanting to be there. College football squads that had higher hopes for the season take no pleasure in playing in games like the Arizona Bowl. That’s not Arkansas State and Nevada, though. Both the Red Wolves and Wolf Pack are ecstatic to be playing on the same day as the College Football Playoff Semifinals. Which team has what it takes to win the competitive Arizona Bowl on Saturday?

Arkansas State vs Nevada 2018 Arizona Bowl Lines & Game Preview

• When: Saturday, Dec. 29 at 1:15 pm ET
• Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
• TV: CBS Sports Net
• Radio: Arkansas / Nevada
• Live Stream: WatchESPN
• ATS Odds: Arkansas State -1.5 (-110)
• Over/Under Total Odds: 56 (-110)

Weather Forecast

• Clear: 9^°C/48^°F
• Humidity: 42%
• Precipitation: 0%
• Wind: 4 mph N
• Cloud Cover: 0%
• Type of Stadium: Open

Why Arkansas State Red Wolves are a good bet -1.5?

Although Arkansas State had the better overall record than Louisiana, the Ragin’ Cajuns beat the Red Wolves for the Sun Belt West Division. The Red Wolves missed out on playing in the conference championship.

For Arkansas State, the Arizona Bowl is a nice consolation prize. They get a chance to visit a unique city in Tucson and make a statement late in the bowl season. A win signals that they remain one of the top teams in the Sun Belt. They won’t let the chance pass them by.

Team Statistics

• Average Score For: 31.8
• Total Yards: 464.8
• Pass Yards: 282
• Rush Yards: 182.8

• Average Score Against: 26.4
• Total Yards: 376.4
• Pass Yards: 175.9
• Rush Yards: 200.5

Why Nevada Wolf Pack are a good bet +1.5?

Nevada makes the short trip to Tucson to take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves. The Wolf Pack battled in one of the deepest conferences in the nation this season, the Mountain West.

3 teams in the conference finished with 3 losses or less: Utah State, Fresno State, and Boise State. Fresno State and Utah State won their bowl games. They canceled Boise State’s bowl matchup. Nevada has pride in the conference in which they play. They’ll want to show up with their best on Saturday.

Team Statistics

• Average Score For: 32.3
• Total Yards: 443.2
• Pass Yards: 285.3
• Rush Yards: 157.8

• Average Score Against: 28.1
• Total Yards: 378.2
• Pass Yards: 243.1
• Rush Yards: 135.2

2018 Arizona Bowl Trends for Arkansas State vs Nevada

• Red Wolves are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games
• Red Wolves are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games
• Wolf Pack are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss
• Wolf Pack are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 bowl games

Arkansas State vs Nevada Final 2018 Arizona Bowl Analysis:

Nevada doesn’t often play well in bowl games while Arkansas State is terrible against the spread in non-conference games. That’s why the Arizona Bowl has one of the smallest spreads of any bowl game this year.

Who takes it? Travel could have something to do with it. Arkansas State must head through multiple states to get to the Arizona Bowl while all Nevada must do is hop on a plane for around a 2 hour ride to get to Tucson.

Nevada should be much fresher than the Red Wolves. They’ll also bring with them plenty of fans who won’t mind making the one day trip. The Wolf Pack take it.

2018 Arizona Bowl Pick: Nevada +1.5