Columnist Jeff Haney: Handicapper: Sun Devils a good bet to win at least 8

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005 | 9:35 a.m.

Jeff Haney's sports betting column appears Wednesday. Reach him at (702) 259-4041 or haney@lasvegassun.com.

Here are the projected Pac-10 football standings, according to local handicapper Patrick Bartucci (top five finishers to go to bowls):

1. USC 11-1

2. Arizona St. 9-2

3. Cal 8-3

4. Oregon 6-5

5. UCLA 6-5

6. Arizona 5-6

7. Washington 5-6

8. Stanford 4-7

9. Oregon St. 4-7

10. Washington St. 3-8

No program in college football experienced a greater blow this offseason than Arizona State, which learned in the spring that tailback Loren Wade had been charged with murder in the shooting death of a former ASU player outside of a nightclub.

Although Wade, who had been projected as a starter in the backfield, is awaiting trial in the killing, people associated with Arizona State are saying the team has dealt with the potentially devastating situation as well as possible, and is keeping its focus on the coming season.

As preseason training camp began, for instance, head coach Dirk Koetter and ASU players told reporters that Wade's situation would have no effect on the team's outlook and that they remained optimistic about their chances in the Pac-10.

Las Vegas handicapper Patrick Bartucci, who specializes in betting Pac-10 football, obviously believes the Sun Devils have shaken off any lingering effects from the turmoil.

Bartucci recommends betting Arizona State to go "over" its posted season win total of 7 1/2 victories, designating the play as his top preseason wager in the Pac-10.

Projecting a record of 9-2 for the Sun Devils, Bartucci highlights a load of returnees on the offensive line and the receiving corps along with a dynamic quarterback in junior Sam Keller, who was named MVP in Arizona State's upset victory against Purdue in last year's Sun Bowl.

"Despite the loss of quarterback Andrew Walter to the NFL, the offense will be just fine under Keller," according to Bartucci's analysis. "He proved this last year after stepping in for Walter, who suffered a season-ending injury against rival Arizona (late last season). ... No disrespect to Walter, but the injury may have helped ASU because Keller now has some moxie entering 2005."

The Sun Devils caught a break in the scheduling department, Bartucci pointed out, with no game against Cal this season -- although they do travel to powerful LSU in Week 2.

Another likely loss will come Oct. 1 to Southern Cal, Bartucci says, but ASU should sweep the remainder of the board and earn a trip to the Holiday Bowl or the Sun Bowl.

In the early betting line in Las Vegas, the Sun Devils are about 10-point underdogs against LSU and 15-point underdogs against USC. In their season opener, the Sun Devils are favored by about 26 points against Temple.

In another Pac-10 prediction, Bartucci sees top-ranked USC stumbling at least once, and recommends betting the Trojans to go "under" their posted total of 11 1/2 wins. (Depending on where you shop, the number on USC's season wins is either 11 1/2 with a high premium on betting the under; or 11, much closer to even money on the under.)

"Testy early-season visits to Oregon and Arizona State will tell the tale" for USC, according to Bartucci, who is online at patricksfreepress.com. "Barring the apocalypse, once again USC will be Pac-10 champs. They likely will have an 11-1 regular season, with another Rose Bowl, and BCS, title in the cards."

Stardust Invitational

Fifteen of the 16 contestants in the 2005 Stardust Invitational football handicapping contest have been announced, with Stardust sports book director Bob Scucci and program host John Kelly awaiting word from the remaining invitee.

This year marks the 11th edition of the invitational, in which contestants compete in a head-to-head, single-elimination tournament throughout the football season for a $10,000 prize.

In the first-round matchup, scheduled for Friday, Sept. 9, defending champion Big Al McMordie faces 2003 winner David Stratton of Gaming Today. Among other contestants in this year's field:

The action takes place Friday nights at the Stardust race and sports book and airs on KDWN 720-AM.

Wagering on the outcome of the invitational is not permitted in Nevada, though traditionally a couple of offshore sports books set odds on the winner, and an informal "underground" betting line on the head-to-head matchups has been known to circulate among local gamblers.

Golf odds

With the conclusion Monday of the PGA Championship marking the end of golf's "grand slam" season for 2005, the Las Vegas Hilton sports book has set odds on how many majors Tiger Woods will win in 2006.

It's 3-2 at the Hilton that Woods will win no major tournaments; 5-4 he'll win exactly one; 7-2 he'll win exactly two; 12-1 he'll win exactly three; and 35-1 he'll win all four majors to capture the grand slam.

The Hilton, among others, offered a similar proposition before this season, in which Woods ended up winning two majors -- the Masters and the British Open. Michael Campbell won the U.S. Open, and Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship, which concluded Monday.

The Hilton and Caesars Palace both posted odds this week to win the 2006 Masters as well, with Woods a 3-1 favorite at Caesars and 5-2 at the Hilton.