This is an 8* PLAY on UC Riverside.

Outright victory?

I'm not calling for that. But I do expect the Highlanders to give the Sun Devils everything they can handles as they look to bounce back from their 66-53 defeat at SDSU on Opening night.

Arizona State is off a 76-60 win and over Portland. But with an upcoming neutral site game against Baylor next week, this is also a bit of a look-ahead spot for ASU.

"This is a long season and we plan to build ourselves into our best selves day by day," UCR head coach Mike Magpayo assessed last night. Seven-foot center Callum McRae, who missed all of last season, had 13 points.

Bobby Hurley's team struggled last year, but it looked decent on opening night. But with much bigger games on the horizon, I think the stage is set for a much more competitive game here tonight than what this spread is suggesting.

The Sun Devils are also a terrible 0-6 ATS in their last six following a SU win, while UCR is still 5-2-1 ATS in its last eight as a road dog.

UCR is a good defensive team, especially against the three-ball (held the Aztecs to just 2 of 12 from range), and that's what ASU's offense revolves around.

I think the underdog will comfortably sneak in through the back door down the stretch.

Grab the points, the play is UC RIVERSIDE.

Good luck, NP