UCLA vs USC Betting Preview
Rivalry Week is at its finest when the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins are both relevant, and that’s exactly what college football fans can look forward to entering Week 14.
No. 22 UCLA (8-3, 5-3 Pac-12) @ No. 23 USC (9-3, 6-2 Pac-12)
Sat. Nov 30 8:00 PM ET @ Los Angeles Coliseum
Spread: USC -3.5
O/U: 51.5
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Despite both teams falling short of a Pac-12 title appearance, this rivalry brings out the best in each squad.
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UCLA hasn’t won in USC’s stadium since 1997, and they’ll have to overcome a three-and-a-half point spread to change that this weekend.
UCLA
With the Bruins’ loss last week, they’re officially out — and Arizona State is in — when it comes to the Pac-12 title game. Typically that kind of blow would be a punch to the gut entering the next contest, but against USC, motivation should be there regardless of the records.
The Bruins have been extremely balanced on offense this season, which is the reason they’re posting 36.6 points per contest—the 27th-best mark in the nation.
They’re 38th in passing, 37th in rushing and to top it all off, they’re allowing just 25 points per outing.
Stats aside, we know one thing: USC will be pumped up for this one. Interim head coach Ed Orgeron has done a masterful job of getting his team to play up to its competition, and that’s not going to change with bragging rights on the line.
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The question is whether or not the Bruins match the Trojans’ energy, and if they do, they’ll be in good shape to come away with a close victory.
USC
This game is going to come down to what kind of pressure USC’s defense can put on UCLA’s offensive line. The Trojans are fourth in the Pac-12 in sacks, but they must implement a quick attack to contain the Bruins’ ultra-talented, dual-threat quarterback.
Offensively, Cody Kessler has looked like a different player ever since the dismissal of Lane Kiffin.
Since Orgeron took over, he has nine touchdowns to just two interceptions, and he’s completing 231 yards per game through the air.
Whichever quarterback can have a better game will be in good shape to win, and if USC’s defense does its job, Kessler could be the one to make that claim.
Unfortunately for USC, we saw last season that containing Brett Hundley is easier said than done. The quarterback—a freshman at the time—completed 22 of his 30 passes, compiling 234 yards along the way.
UCLA won by 10 points, and walked into a matchup with the Stanford Cardinal with confidence.
From a historical standpoint, the home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings between these two.
Unfortunately for USC, as strong as it has played, Hundley will look to make plays with both his arm and his feet in this one. Expect a close contest, but don’t be shocked if the Bruins come away with a win ATS, as well as straight up.
Prediction: UCLA 37 – USC 36
