The USC Trojans (2-0) visit the Utah Utes (0-0) Saturday in a Pac-12 rivalry game at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the USC-Utah college football betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The Trojans are ranked 19th in the Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
USC at Utah: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 5:10 p.m. ET.
- Money line: USC -139 (bet $139 to win $100) | Utah +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Against the spread/ATS: USC -3 (-106) | Utah +3 (-115)
- Over/Under: 58.5 (O: -106 | U: -115)
USC at Utah: Three things to know
- USC pulled out another close win last week, beating Arizona 34-30 thanks to an 8-yard game-winning touchdown scamper by RB Vavae Malepeai with 25 seconds remaining. The Trojans failed to cover as 15-point favorites.
- The 2019 campaign was Utah’s 13th winning season in 15 years under head coach Kyle Whittingham, who has transformed the Utes program into a low-key powerhouse. Utah’s 11 wins were the second-most in program history, behind the 2004 undefeated team that won 12 games with Urban Meyer at the helm.
- Utah must overcome the most roster turnover in the nation, according to ESPN. The Utes are dead-last in the country in defensive return of production and 105th on the other side of the ball.
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USC at Utah: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
USC 30, Utah 21
Money line (ML)
USC certainly hasn’t been impressive in its first two games but at least it has gotten a chance to work out the kinks. All of Utah’s roster turnover and not having any real game reps makes this line puzzling.
My read is that the market is low on USC after eking out wins as double-digit favorites and its recent head-to-head performances against Utah. The Utes have 31 active players in the NFL and have built themselves into a legitimate contender to win the Pac-12 year in, year out.
I’m going to fade supposed sharp money, which has taken USC’s opening number down from -165 to the current price. It feels like the action is more against USC than pro-Utah but the Trojans have more talent on the field. USC is ranked fifth in ESPN’s return of production and should have enough balance on offense to give any defense fits.
GIMME USC (-139) for 1 unit.
Against the spread (ATS)
Obviously, I lean USC -3 (-106) but I’d rather stick with the money line wager. Taking the Trojans here makes sense since it’s a flat 3 but still reduced vig. You could go either way with this, but let’s get greedy and BET USC -3 (-106) for a half-unit.
Over/Under (O/U)
PASS on the total. My feeling is that USC’s defense is going to make life tough on a Utes’ offense whose 2019 starting quarterback graduated (Tyler Huntley) and starting running back was drafted by the Buffalo Bills (Zack Moss).
The Over is 4-1 across the past five USC-Utah games and the Trojans are 82nd in opponent’s yards per play, 75th in opponent’s 3rd down conversion percentage and they’ve allowed opponents to score on 100% of red-zone appearances.
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