2. Utah at USC
LINE USC -3
ATS PICK USC
I hope this pick is wrong.
Utah was still mourning over the loss of RB Ty Jordan in a shooting incident late in 2020, and now it has to suffer through another tragedy after the shooting death of CB Aaron Lowe a few weeks ago.
It’s been a rough run, and the program deserves something nice – even if it’s as trivial as a win over USC.
Please forgive the impossibly awkward pivot to silly football analysis.
Utah has beaten USC at times over the 19 meetings.
It won in 2018 when the Trojans were sputtering through a losing season, and it pulled off a win in 2016 when both teams had huge years.
It won in a 24-21 fight in 2014, and there was a 2001 Las Vegas Bowl win back when Utah was in the Mountain West. And it won in …
1916.
Since coming up with the 27-12 victory to kick things off way back then, Utah hasn’t been able to beat USC in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.
The 1993 Utes lost to USC in the Freedom Bowl played in Anaheim. Including that, they’re 0-6 in LA since 1916.
This is a painfully flaky USC team, and if you’re a believer in patterns, its due for a loss after starting W-L-W-L-W.
But it’s in Los Angeles, Utah is lousy on third downs and USC is No. 1 in the Pac-12 in third down D, and the passing game isn’t there to keep up once Kedon Slovis and company finally kick in the groove.
The 3 is way, way, too low for the Trojans at home. Speaking of spreads that seem a tad askew …
NEXT: College Football Pick Against The Spread No. 1: Michigan at Nebraska