Peach Bowl Preview: Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns will face off against the Arizona State Sun Devils on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, to kick off the new year in the Peach Bowl. The game is scheduled to take place at 1:00 PM at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

According to the oddsmakers at XBet, the Texas Longhorns are 12.5-point favorites, with an over/under total set at 51.5 points. The winner of this matchup will advance to the semifinals, where they will compete against the winner of the Oregon vs. Ohio State game in the Cotton Bowl on January 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.

If Texas wins the Peach Bowl, this Cotton Bowl game will essentially serve as a home game for them.

**Texas Longhorns Preview**

The Texas Longhorns have finished the season with a record of 12-2, with their only losses coming against Georgia in two close contests: 22-19 and 30-15. Had they won those games, they would likely be considered the best team in the country.

Some might still argue that they are the best team overall. They recently defeated Clemson 38-24 to secure their place in this game and have also had impressive wins against Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt throughout the season.

**Arizona State Sun Devils Preview**

In contrast, the Arizona State Sun Devils were not expected to have a winning record, let alone reach the College Football Playoffs. They ended the season with an impressive 11-2 record after being projected to finish last in the Big 12 at the beginning of the preseason.

Against the odds, they won the Big 12 Championship on December 7 by defeating Iowa State 45-19, earning their spot in the College Football Playoffs. With no games since December 7, the Sun Devils have had ample time to prepare.

Their season does have two blemishes, both away games: a loss to Texas Tech (22-30) on September 21 and another loss to Cincinnati (14-24) on October 19. Traveling from Arizona to Georgia for this game could pose additional challenges.

**Handicapping the Peach Bowl**

There has been significant hype surrounding Arizona State, but that enthusiasm may soon come to a halt. When comparing the two teams and their respective opponents, it’s clear that the Longhorns have faced a tougher schedule.

Overall, it’s difficult to view these two teams as equals. Texas is expected to dominate in this matchup.

Therefore, the recommendation is to take Texas and lay the points at XBet.

**Pick: Texas Longhorns -12.5**