The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks take on the Arizona State Sun Devils in Tempe, AZ. Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Arizona State is favored by -28.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -10000. The total is set at 52.5 points.
Here’s my Northern Arizona vs. Arizona State predictions and college football picks for Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Northern Arizona vs Arizona State Prediction
- Northern Arizona vs. Arizona State Pick: Arizona State -28.5
My Arizona State vs. Northern Arizona best bet is on the Sun Devils to cover. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Northern Arizona vs Arizona State Odds
| Northern Arizona Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+28.5 -105 | 52.5 -110o / -110u | +3000 |
| Arizona State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-28.5 -115 | 52.5 -110o / -110u | -10000 |
- Northern Arizona vs Arizona State point spread: Arizona State -28.5
- Northern Arizona vs Arizona State over/under: 52.5 points
- Northern Arizona vs Arizona State moneyline: Northern Arizona +3000, Arizona State -10000
Northern Arizona vs Arizona State Preview
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Betting Preview: Another Year for Growth
All things considered, there seems to be an ample amount of positivity coming out of Flagstaff.
Forever a program that hobbled its way through the season, second-year head coach Brian Wright was able to lead Northern Arizona to its first FCS playoff appearance since 2017 last year, and the first time it was ranked since 2016.
This season, the hope is that history repeats itself, possibly with even a little more luck.
Quarterback Ty Pennington steps in for his second season at NAU, but his third under coach Wright, who he followed to Flagstaff from Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, Kansas.
For his first season with the Lumberjacks, Pennington showed he belonged. He completed passes at a solid 65% rate, along with throwing 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions. With that, he also threw for over 2,200 yards.
But not only that, he can run the ball with efficiency too, registering seven touchdowns from the ground.
Also returning is running back Seth Cromwell, the junior who led the Lumberjacks in rushing last season. He amassed 681 yards on 125 carries, good enough for a solid 5.4 yards per carry.
Darvon Hubbard, who can also run for distance, is also in the running back room, but I expect him to take a backseat to Cromwell.
However, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of continuity in the receiver room. Isaiah Eastman (238 yards and a TD in 2024) is returning, as well as Kolbe Katsis, who played alongside Wright and Pennington at Pittsburg State.
Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Preview: Eyes on Bigger Prizes
Arizona State is entering a season in which it not only is returning 16 starters, but it's the favorite to win its conference for the first time in recent memory.
After surprising the college football world last season by capturing the Big 12 title in their first season in the conference and making the College Football Playoff, the Sun Devils are rolling out two top prospects in the upcoming NFL draft.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt is on a short list of Heisman Trophy candidates after throwing for over 2,800 yards, 24 touchdowns and only coughing up six interceptions in 2024.
It won't be hard for him to repeat or even exceed those numbers with a strong wide receiver room. Possible first-round talent Jordyn Tyson will be lining up on the outside, alongside Fresno State transfer Jalen Moss and Alabama transfer slot receiver Jaren "Turbo" Hamilton.
In the backfield, ASU is tasked with replacing one of college football's most effective running backs from last season in Cam Skattebo. Luckily, the Sun Devils were able to snag Kanye Udoh, the transfer out of Army.
Udoh has a quality first step, exceptional speed bursts and has proven to take on a lot of carries — something that Skattebo thrived on.
Defensively, it's hard to find a better core. Defensive tackle CJ Fite is among the leaders of this program and served a critical role on last year's team.
The Sun Devils also have one of the best secondaries in the country. Javan Robinson, Xavion Alford and Keith Abney III are all sticky and physical defenders, and it could be a long Week 1 for NAU's receivers.
Northern Arizona vs Arizona State Pick, Betting Analysis
These meetups haven't been kind to the Lumberjacks since the 1930s — no matter how positive the outlook is.
Since 1938, Arizona State has come out on top in every matchup except for one, when it tied with NAU on November 16, 1946. From that point, every game has been a blowout, with the smallest differential being 17 points.
And think about it: This was before ASU was the powerhouse it is now. Coach Kenny Dillingham has his eyes set on turning this program into a blue blood sooner or later, so I expect this duel to be a total bloodbath.
The spread is set at 28.5 points and even though that could be seen as a high number, the differentials of the last three games were by a margin of 31 points or higher.
That's why I feel great about picking the Sun Devils to cover. They're going to be one of the nation's best programs, and I see no reason why they won't totally demolish the Lumberjacks.
Pick: Arizona State -28.5
