History of the Top Teams in the Valley
Arizona is loaded with professional sports franchises, but the state is also known for superior collegiate athletics. There are two major universities in Arizona. These schools are the University of Arizona Wildcats and the Arizona State University Sun Devils.
These schools offer many athletic programs, but the two sports that most people will bet are football and basketball. Arizona and Arizona State have been known for great football and basketball programs in recent history.
The Arizona State Devils football team has won 17 Pac-12 Conference titles since 1978. The team was established in 1897. The Arizona Wildcats football team was created in 1899, and they also compete in the Pac-12 Conference.
The Wildcats have won six conference titles and developed 16 All-Americans in the NCAA, with many more most likely being added to this list since the publication of this page (in 2022).
Arizona’s basketball program won one National Championship in 1997. They were the NCAA Runner-up in 2001, and they have been to four Final Fours. Additionally, they have claimed seven conference tournament titles.
Arizona State’s basketball team has never made it past the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. They have also never won the Pac-12 regular or tournament championship, so the Wildcats have an advantage over the Sun Devils on the hardwood. However, the Sun Devils made the tournament in 2019, while the Wildcats watched from home.
2021 Outlook
Basketball season is almost finished, with the NCAA Tournament underway. Neither Arizona nor Arizona State made the NCAA Tournament in 2021. The Arizona Wildcats finished higher in the standings than Arizona State.
Arizona had a decent season, tallying a record of 17-9. They went 11-9 in the Pac-12 Conference.
The Wildcats defeated the Sun Devils in both games against their in-state rival in 2020-21. Arizona beat Arizona State by a score of 84-82 and then 80-67 on January 21st and January 25th.
Arizona State went 11-14 in the regular season and had a record of 7-10 in the Pac-12 Conference. The Sun Devils ended their season with a 91-73 loss against Oregon.
The football programs are currently in spring practice in preparation for the 2021 season. Arizona and Arizona State are expected to be better than last season. Although, this is not saying much because the two programs were the worst in the Pac-12 Conference.
Arizona State went 2-2, and Arizona went 0-5. The season was shortened because of COVID-19, but the mistakes from young players showed for both squads. Arizona State will be better than Arizona next year.
The Sun Devils could make a push at the South Division title. They are returning players on both sides of the ball that shined in 2020.
Betting Forecast of the Team
Arizona performed better than Arizona State against the moneyline in 2021 in basketball. I expect this to be the case next season as well. The Sun Devils have not shown much consistency in program history, so I am betting on the Wildcats next season.
Arizona went 10-16 ATS this spread in 2021, and Arizona State went 6-21 ATS. It was challenging to make money on either of these teams in 2021, but the Wildcats were much more consistent on the spread and moneyline.
Football was tough to bet in 2021 in the Pac-12 because of the limited games played by all the teams. Arizona State was better than Arizona, and this will be the case again in 2021.
They will be more fun to watch and much safer to bet. The Sun Devils went 3-1 ATS last year compared to Arizona, who went 1-4. Each team split for the over/under.
Arizona had a difficult time keeping games close last season. Arizona State was the opposite, and they played great as underdogs. As dogs, Arizona State was 1-0 ATS, and they were 3-0 ATS on the road. A solid group of returners will help Arizona State continue its dominance against the spread.
Star Players
Remy Martin led the Arizona State Sun Devils in 2021. He dropped 19.1 points per game and shot 43.3% from the field this season. He is a senior, so Arizona State will have to find a new go-to player in 2022. Freshman Josh Christopher will be the next star at Arizona State after averaging 14.3 points per game.
Arizona’s best player in 2021 was James Akinjo. Akinjo will return to school next year for his senior year to lead the Wildcats. Akinjo scored 15.6 points and dished 5.4 assists per game. He will need to improve his shooting percentage next season.
Arizona’s football team has a few good players. Quarterback Grant Gunnell is a junior quarterback. In 2020, he went 64 of 93 for 625 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions.
Arizona State has better players than Arizona all over the field. In 2021, watch out for Jayden Daniels at quarterback and Rachaad White at running back. This duo is going to be efficient all season long and torment schools all over the west coast. Daniels is a junior who completed 58.3% of his passes with five touchdowns in 2020. White averaged 10 yards per carry on 42 rushes last season. He also scored five touchdowns because of his elite combination of speed and size.
FAQ of Betting on Arizona Collegiate Athletics
What are the most prominent colleges in Arizona?
The two most prominent colleges in Arizona are the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. The best collegiate athletic programs in the state are at these two schools.
What are the primary sports that bettors can wager for Arizona colleges?
The primary sports that bettors will be able to bet on are football and basketball with ease once sports betting is legalized in Arizona.
What football program is the best in the state?
Arizona State has a much better football program than Arizona. Arizona State is expected to be a top team in the Pac-12 this coming season. Arizona is projected to finish at the bottom of the conference in 2021.
What basketball program is the best?
The University of Arizona has produced consistently better basketball teams than Arizona State in the past. Arizona was better than Arizona State in 2021. The Wildcats swept the Sun Devils in two games this year.
Is sports betting legal in Arizona?
Yes, sports betting is legal in Arizona. The goal is for the form of gambling to launch by the 2021 football season.