Our system of the week identifies undefeated teams that hit the highway after needing overtime to secure a victory their last time out. The system was last active in 2008 when Texas Tech was installed as a 20.5-point road at Texas A&M and failed to cover winning 43 to 25. Prior to that we see that the system had two active dates back in 2006 the first came on September 16 as Texas Tech was installed as a 1-point road favorite versus TCU and lost 12 to 3 to the Horned Frogs. The second active date in 2006 was on September 23 as Boston College traveled to Raleigh North Carolina to face the Wolf Pack as a 6.5-point road favorite and proceeded to lose 17 to 15.

This week Arizona State travels to Champaign Illinois to face the Illini as a 1.5-point road favorite. Arizona State played host to the Missouri Tigers back on September 9 and needed an extra stanza to get the victory 37 to 30 in overtime. That performance by the Sun Devils qualifies them in our System of the Week this week. Albeit a play against qualification because as a favorite they needed extra time to dispatch their last opponent and we expect them to be flat here facing a non-conference foe on the road.

This game for Arizona State is sandwiched between that overtime victory over Missouri and their Pac-12 Season opener, which takes place next week in Tempe where they host rival USC Trojans. For Illinois, this is their big game for September as they have faced Arkansas State, South Dakota State and only have Western Michigan on deck. Not a who’s who of college football so the game this week is huge for the Illini and their faithful.

With all the system parameters met this week’s Cajun Sports Wire NCAA Football System of the Week qualifies the Arizona State Sun Devils are our Play AGAINST team of the week. Take the Illinois Fighting Illini plus the point(s) over the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday in Champaign.