The USC Trojans (6-4, 5-2 Pac-12 South) and California Golden Bears (5-4, 2-4 North) will look horns in Berkeley Saturday night at 11 p.m. ET.
We analyze the USC-California odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.
USC at California: Three things you need to know
1. California opened the season 4-0 SU/2-2 ATS, and spent time in the Top 25 rankings before tumbling out. The Bears followed that start with an 0-4 SU/1-3 ATS skid before winning outright at 8.5-point dogs at home to Washington State last week.
2. Sophomore QB Chase Garbers (shoulder) was knocked out of the Arizona State game Sept. 27, which coincided with the Bears’ first loss of the season. He has been cleared and the dual-threat signal caller is expected to start.
3. The Trojans are just 16-33-2 ATS across their past 51 road tilts, but they’re 6-1 ATS in the past seven trips to Berkeley and 10-4 ATS in the past 14 meetings overall against Cal.
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USC at California: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:50 a.m. ET.
Prediction
USC 26, California 23
Moneyline (ML)
USC (-189) still has legit hope at appearing in the Pac-12 title game, but it cannot afford any slip-ups. Normally I am not comfortable with this kind of juice on the moneyline, but the return of QB Garbers should mean a close game, and I actually like the ML better than playing the spread.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on USC to win would return a profit of $5.30.
Against the Spread (ATS)
Oh, that hook! I dislike playing games at 3.5 or 7.5. It’s just a personal preference of mine unless I really love the game. Here, I don’t feel USC that much on the road. USC (-3.5, -110) is going to be in a dogfight with California (+3.5, -110), therefore I like the moneyline better here, especially if Garbers is a little rusty in his return.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER (47.5) is worth going ever so lightly, although my preference would be to skip altogether. Cal’s offense has been moribund for most of the season, with or without Garbers. USC has some nice skill position players that can house it every time they touch the ball, though. This won’t be a defensive slog, but won’t be a slam-dunk Over play, either.
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