Point spread, over/under for Arizona’s season opener vs. NAU

For Tucson fans preparing for Arizona’s football opener, the betting market expects a one-sided game at Casino Del Sol Stadium. The Wildcats are listed as 33.5-point favorites over Northern Arizona, while the projected total is 56.5 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook and Action Sports Network. Arizona will begin its season Saturday, Sept. 5, at 6:30 p.m., with the game available to stream on ESPN+. The matchup gives local fans an early look at Brent Brennan’s team, while NAU arrives with an important advantage: the Lumberjacks have already played a full game and are coming off a comeback victory.

Northern Arizona opened its season by rallying from a 24-3 deficit to defeat Eastern Washington 34-27 in Flagstaff. The Lumberjacks, ranked 25th in the FCS rankings, overcame a difficult first half in which Eastern Washington scored on four of seven drives. NAU also had trouble getting off the field, allowing the Eagles to convert six of nine third downs, including several long third down situations. Eastern Washington finished with 429 total yards, compared with 365 for NAU, but the Lumberjacks made the decisive plays late to preserve the victory.

The comeback began with a dramatic contribution from Lindsey Graves, who returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Graves had two kickoff returns for 116 yards in the game, giving NAU a major special teams lift when the offense and defense were both struggling. The Lumberjacks then created a turnover when their defense intercepted Eastern Washington quarterback Nate Bell. Before halftime, running back Quran Gossett scored from two yards out, cutting the deficit to a single possession and giving NAU momentum heading into the break.

NAU continued its comeback after halftime. A field goal reduced the margin to four points, and the Lumberjacks took their first lead two drives later when quarterback Ty Pennington connected with Jeter Purdy for a 30-yard touchdown. Eastern Washington answered with a scoring drive to tie the game, but NAU responded with an 11-play, 75-yard possession. Pennington threw his second touchdown pass, this one to Nassim Isaac, to put the Lumberjacks back in front. Eastern Washington reached the NAU 11-yard line with an opportunity to tie, but the Lumberjacks stopped the drive and ran out the remaining clock.

Pennington completed 15 of 27 passes for 164 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also contributed 61 rushing yards on eight attempts, helping NAU produce a balanced ground attack. Gossett carried 21 times for 103 yards and a touchdown, while the Lumberjacks totaled 201 rushing yards. Purdy led the receiving corps with 105 yards on seven catches. Those numbers offer Arizona an early scouting report on an offense that showed it can recover from a large deficit, although the Lumberjacks also gave up substantial yardage in the opener.

The Wildcats enter the game at 0-0, but they have historically controlled this in-state series. Arizona is 17-2 all-time against NAU and has won the past two meetings. The most recent matchup described in the available background was a 22-10 Arizona victory during Brennan’s first season as head coach. NAU led 10-6 at halftime in that game, but Arizona scored 12 unanswered points after the break. Brennan also is 2-0 in season openers, adding another piece of history that Arizona will bring into Saturday night’s contest.

The series has not always followed expectations, however. NAU’s 2021 victory was historic because it marked the Lumberjacks’ first win over Arizona since 1932. That result remains the clearest reminder that the large point spread does not eliminate the possibility of a competitive game, particularly with NAU already tested this season. Arizona’s defense will face a quarterback who has demonstrated both passing and running ability, a productive running back in Gossett and a dangerous return specialist in Graves. NAU’s defense, meanwhile, will need to improve substantially after allowing Eastern Washington to move the ball and convert third downs at a high rate.

For Tucson residents, the game combines familiar regional stakes with the first competitive milestone of Arizona’s season. The Wildcats are expected to win comfortably based on the 33.5-point line, and the 56.5-point over/under suggests bookmakers anticipate a game with significant scoring. NAU’s comeback has added some uncertainty to an otherwise heavily favored matchup, giving the Lumberjacks confidence and Arizona a live test against an opponent that has already faced adversity. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Casino Del Sol Stadium, with ESPN+ carrying the stream.