Arizona State vs. BYU Prediction, CFB Week 9 Odds & Best Bets (10/31)

Fact checked at 9:41 AM ET, Oct 31, 2026

Odds as of 8:15 AM ET, Oct 31, 2026

No. 8 BYU (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) hosts Arizona State (4-3, 2-2) at 3:30 PM ET at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on FOX. BYU is a 16.5-point favorite with the total at 48.5, and we expect the game those numbers describe. Bear Bachmeier throws for his usual yards and BYU wins, while an Arizona State offense likely led by a freshman in his first career start gets its points through running back Cardae Mack.

Mikey Keene hurt his knee in the Sun Devils' 28-17 win over Kansas State and is Questionable on the Big 12's latest report. Coach Kenny Dillingham said "The plan is probably Jake," meaning Jake Fette, with Keene starting only if he's able. BYU comes in off a 39-31 double-overtime loss at UCF.

Arizona State vs. BYU Predictions

• Pick #1: Bear Bachmeier 220+ Passing Yards (-175)
• Pick #2: Cardae Mack Anytime TD (+230)

PICK #1: Bear Bachmeier 220+ Passing Yards (-175)

You're paying this price because of BYU's backfield. LJ Martin, the team's leading rusher, got hurt at TCU and is Out again. Bachmeier has thrown 30, 36 and 32 passes in the three games since, after 16 to 26 in the first four, and he cleared 220 in all three: 329 against Iowa State, 224 against Notre Dame and 257 at UCF. Three games isn't much and UCF took two overtimes, but the extra throws have been there every week.

Arizona State gave up 235, 320, 252 and 242 passing yards to Kansas, Baylor, Hawaii and Texas Tech, and Kansas State managed 194 in the other game of its last five. Safety Lyrik Rawls is Questionable. BYU has allowed four sacks all season, and the kickoff forecast is 59 degrees with light wind and a slight chance of a shower.

The implied probability at -175 is 63.6%, and his longer record doesn't reach that on its own: 4 of 7 this season, with 198 against Utah Tech, 217 against Arizona and 62 at TCU as the misses, and 6 of 14 last season. The 224 and 227 barely got there. TCU is the bad version, 11 of 24 in a game he ran 15 times and scored twice on the ground. Baylor and Texas Tech ran for 244 and 260 on this defense, Sione Moa is back and Preston Rex is Probable. A big lead could also cut the volume, the way he finished with 198 on 20 attempts in the 63-7 win over Utah Tech.

PICK #2: Cardae Mack Anytime TD (+230)

Whoever takes the snaps, Arizona State's touchdowns have been coming from Mack. He's scored in 3 of his last 4 games: 2 touchdowns on 154 rushing yards against Hawaii, 4 on 159 yards and 26 carries against Kansas State, and a 12-yard catch from Keene at Texas Tech. The miss was Baylor, on 5 carries. Over the full season he's at 3 of 7, since he had four carries for 26 yards in the first three games and no stat line at Kansas. Either number clears the 30.3% that +230 implies.

He has three touchdowns from the wildcat, including the 11-yard direct snap that closed out Kansas State. Fette came in and threw only six passes across four drives in that game, and Mack scored the two fourth-quarter touchdowns that won it. A first-time starter on the road gives Arizona State more reason to go back to that.

BYU's run defense is the obstacle. It allows 98.1 rushing yards a game and has gone over 115 only once, and TCU and Iowa State didn't score a rushing touchdown against it. Arizona State's line is banged up, with Tana Alo-Tupuola Out, Marques Uini and Xander Ruggeroli Doubtful and Wade Helton Questionable. Mack's rushing touchdowns came in 2 of those last 4 games, both home wins. In the losses to Baylor and Texas Tech he carried 5 and 7 times without one, and the catch was the last score of a 53-25 game. He can lose carries if BYU gets ahead fast, so an early hole is how this one goes wrong.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.