Southern Cal Trojans vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Free Week 3 College Football Pick + Betting Preview
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Trojans vs Golden Gophers Matchup Tips
The 2010 College Football season is officially underway. Veteran sportswriter Matt Martz will preview all of the weekly PAC-10 match ups throughout the season, providing some insight to help make your college football wagers winners. Check back every week for your complete source for NCAA football gambling right here on CappersPicks.com.
Date/Time: Saturday, September 18, 12:30 PM EST
Venue: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN.
Broadcast: ESPN
Southern California Trojans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers College Betting Lines from Bookmaker
Money Line: USC -475, Minnesota +375
Spread: USC –4
Over/Under: 53.5
Bet Now At Bookmaker.com —>
Thirty years have passed since No. 18 USC and Minnesota have faced off, with the “boys from Troy” coming away with a 24-7 victory back on Sept. 27, 1980, in Minneapolis.
USC has also won 10 in a row against Big Ten opponents. The last Trojans loss against a Big Ten school came on Aug. 25, 1996, when Penn State defeated USC, 24-7, in the Kickoff Classic in East Rutherford, N.J.
This year’s game will be played in one of college football’s newest stadiums and unlike the weather playing a part in the results of meetings past, the forecast calls for the possibility of light precipitation, and a cool 60 degrees. A perfect day for football in the “North Star State.”
The trip to Minnesota will be a sort of homecoming for USC coach Lane Kiffin, a place where he attended high school as well as where his father and assistant coach Monte Kiffin was an assistant with the Minnesota Vikings from 1986-1994.
However, the Gophers (1-1) won’t be rolling out the welcome wagon as the look to get back on the rails after losing their 2010 home opener to South Dakota, 41-38.
The Coyotes exploited Minnesota’s defensive inexperience with big plays, reeling off nine gains of 20 yards or more while missed tackles and blown coverages allowed South Dakota to score three touchdowns in each half and hold off Minnesota’s repeated attempts to rally.
Meanwhile the Trojans improved to 2-0 with a too-close-for-comfort 17-14 victory over Virginia at the Coliseum on Saturday night. 
Matt Barkley passed for 202 yards and threw a pair of early touchdown passes to Jordan Cameron and Brandon Carswell, but then the offense stalled in the second half. Barkley has been far from being lights out, but has completed 66 percent of his passes including seven TDs and has yet to be picked off this season.
Despite the narrow margin victory there wasn’t much else that the Trojans could be happy about, as multiple offensive lapses and an excess of penalties (13 for 140 yards) nearly spelled defeat for USC in its 2010 home opener. Despite some small improvements from a defense that surrendered a whopping 588 yards to Hawaii in Week 1, the squad still displayed massive holes giving away 340 total yards to the Cavs.
The Golden Gophers have an experienced, run-happy offense including four-year starting QB Adam Weber and speedy RB Duane Bennett, who is nationally ranked 6th in rushing.
Tim Brewster’s team plays a pro style set, power run game. They are not a team that is going to throw a lot and if they do, they are in trouble as Weber is prone to mistakes. This could work in SC’s favor, as one thing the D has been doing, is getting to opposing quarterbacks. So rattling Weber’s cage should prove effective.
On the contrary, the Gophers’ D is inexperienced, with just two starters back from a 2009 team that went 6-7. They are inconsistent at best, looking good on one down but then having moments of coverage lapses and seem to give up points in bunches. They’re better suited against the run with fast linebackers and big defensive lineman
I still don’t think that will impede Trojan tailback Marc Tyler, who leads the Pac-10 in rushing with 110 yards per outing.
USC should win this one as Barkley and Co. take advantage of a green defense while the Trojans’ defense, who has most of the ingredients for success, continues to get a little better as we head further into the season.
Free Pick: USC
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Matt Martz is a sports writer for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
