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The USC Trojans (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12) and the Colorado Buffaloes (3-1, 0-1) meet Saturday at Folsom Field in a Pac-12 conference showdown in Boulder. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET (FOX). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the USC vs. Colorado odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
USC picked up a 42-28 win at Arizona State last time out, but the Trojans didn’t come close to covering a 34.5-point number. It was the 4th straight game USC posted 42 or more points of offense, and the Over is 3-1 overall. The Trojans are averaging 49.0 points per game (PPG) in 2 Pac-12 battles, while allowing just 19.0 PPG.
Colorado opened with 3 straight wins at TCU, and at home against Nebraska and Colorado State. After covering the 1st 2 games, the Buffaloes failed to cover in the OT win over the rival Rams, and CU took its 1st loss with a 42-6 rout at the hands of the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 opener. The Over and Under has alternated in each of the 1st 4 games.
USC is No. 6 and Colorado is No. 25 in the US LBM Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
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USC at Colorado odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:48 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): USC -1600 (bet $1,600 to win $100) | Colorado +860 (bet $100 to win $860)
- Against the spread (ATS): USC -21.5 (-115) | Colorado +21.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 73.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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USC at Colorado picks and predictions
Prediction
USC 51, Colorado 27
Moneyline
USC (-1600) will cost you 16 times your potential return, and there is just no scenario where that kind of wager is warranted, either as a standalone play, or as part of a multi-team parlay.
Yes, Colorado (+860) was smashed last time out in Oregon, and all of the critics and doubters came out of the woodwork. But CU is back home, and the Buffs have been tough. It should be an electric atmosphere in Boulder, but you can’t back the home side yet, either. Colorado just isn’t ready to shock the world and drop a top-10 opponent.
PASS.
Against the spread
USC -21.5 (-115) is a rather heavy number on the road. However, after what we saw from Colorado +21.5 (-105) last week, when Oregon handled its business in rather easy fashion, you can expect the Trojans to march up and down the field with relative ease, too.
However, the Buffaloes will have a much better showing offensively. One, CU is at home, and it is averaging 39.5 PPG in 2 home dates. And the Trojans allowed a bad Arizona State team to put up 28 points on them last week, and that was with a backup QB. Colorado will hang with USC into the 2nd half before the favorites pull away.
Over/Under
OVER 73.5 (-110) is the play. USC should score early and often, but Colorado should be able to keep the favorites within sight.
The Trojans allowed 353 total yards of offense, including 263 yards through the air, to an Arizona State team using its 3rd-string QB. If that happened, imagine what QB Shedeur Sanders will be able to accomplish.
This is a big number, but these teams are going to keep the scoreboard operator busy at Folsom.
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