Arizona vs. Washington St Recap: Fifita Erases a 14-0 Hole

Arizona beat Washington State 34-24 after falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter. Caden Pinnick ran for an 11-yard touchdown, and then Jackquintin Bal returned a Noah Fifita interception 25 yards for another. Fifita answered with two touchdown passes to Tre Spivey to tie it, and Washington State took a 17-14 lead into halftime on a 33-yard field goal. In the second half Arizona scored 17 straight points: a 38-yard touchdown to Caleb Smith, a field goal and an 11-yard score to Isaiah Mizell. Washington State's last drive ended on downs at the Arizona 24 in the final minute. Four DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game, all posted before kickoff.

What cashed

Arizona ML (-410 at DraftKings): CASHED

• Our read: Arizona was 2-1 and Washington State 1-2, and Arizona won the last meeting 44-6. Arizona was 0-3 against the spread, so we took the ML instead of -10.5.
• What happened: Arizona won by 10 even after trailing by two touchdowns. It outgained Washington State 447 to 335 and held the ball for 34:02.
• Worth watching: Arizona won by 10, half a point short of the main -10.5. For a favorite that has struggled against the number, the ML is the cleaner way in.

ALT: Arizona -3.5 (alt, targeted -170 to -200): CASHED

• Our read: The main line was -10.5. Washington State ranked 132nd in passing yards per game, and Pinnick had 3 interceptions to 2 touchdowns. The alt gave us seven points of cushion.
• What happened: Arizona won by 10 and covered -3.5 by 6.5. It got tight after Pinnick's 46-yard touchdown pass to Branden Ganashamoorthy cut the lead to 31-24, and a 51-yard field goal with 1:57 left gave Arizona more room.
• Worth watching: This is why we buy points. The alt had room to spare on a day the main number came up half a point short.

ALT: Noah Fifita 225+ passing yards (alt, targeted -170 to -200): CASHED

• Our read: Fifita had thrown for 279, 230 and 325 yards on 81% completions, and Washington State had given up 34 to K-State.
• What happened: He completed 22 of 36 passes for 297 yards and 4 touchdowns, clearing 224.5 by 72.5 yards. Spivey caught 7 passes for 129 yards and two scores, and Smith had 86 yards on 4 catches.
• Worth watching: He cleared the line comfortably even while completing 61% of his passes, well below the 81% we cited. That kind of yardage floor makes his alts worth a look again.

ALT: Washington State team total Under 24.5 (alt, targeted -170 to -200): CASHED

• Our read: Washington State had scored 10 at Washington and 7 at Kansas State, averaged 134.3 passing yards a game (132nd), and faced an Arizona defense allowing 75.7 rushing yards a game. Arizona -10.5 with a 48.5 total pointed to about 19.
• What happened: Washington State scored 24, so it cashed by half a point. Seven of those points came on the interception return, and the last drive ended on a fourth-down incompletion inside the final minute. The Cougars threw for 241 yards, well above the 134.3 average in our read.
• Worth watching: This one needed a late stop. A team total also counts defensive and return touchdowns, so a bit more cushion is worth looking for next time.

How the game played out

Pinnick ran 13 times for 35 yards and the first touchdown of the game, and he threw 41 times as Washington State chased points in the fourth quarter. Arizona's defense forced a fumble on a sack in the third quarter and blocked a field goal before halftime. Arizona ran for 150 yards on 38 carries.

Trends to watch

• Arizona won by 10 against a -10.5 main line. The ML or an alt spread fits Arizona better than the main number.
• Fifita's passing yards held up in a game with a pick-six and a 61% completion rate. His yardage alts are worth a look.
• Washington State leaned on the pass once it trailed. For its team total, the game script matters as much as its season averages.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. New to these terms? Read up on the point spread, the alt line and the same-game parlay, or head back to the college football hub.