The USC Trojans (-6.5) aren’t traveling far to battle their Pac-12 foe California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 11:00 p.m. ET and FS1 will broadcast the action.
Betting Preview: USC Trojans vs. California Golden Bears
In this Saturday Pac-12 matchup, USC is getting picked as the favorite and is currently giving up 6.5 points. The Trojans are also receiving -270 moneyline odds while the Golden Bears are +210. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 48.5 points, and multiple solid live betting possibilities may be unveiled throughout the game.
The sharp action is siding with the Trojans, as the opening line was 5. The total has not moved after being initially set at 48.5.
Both of these teams have rewarded gamblers this season as the Trojans have gained 1.4 units while the Golden Bears are ahead 3.6 units.
The Trojans are 6-4 straight up (SU), including 5-2 SU against Pac-12 opponents. The Golden Bears are 5-4 SU overall and 2-4 SU in conference play.
The Trojans enter after a 31-26 victory over Arizona State last week. the Trojans completed 33-of-45 passes for 477 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Kedon Slovis went 29-for-39 for 432 yards, four touchdowns and one interception while Matt Fink completed four-of-six for 45 yards. Kenan Christon (62 rushing yards on 20 attempts) led the running attack in the win. Michael Pittman Jr. (13 receptions, 146 yards) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (eight catches, 173 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties.
California just earned a 33-20 win over Washington State. The team’s defensive secondary allowed the Cougars to air it out for 407 yards and two touchdowns. Brandon Arconado was a bright spot in the defeat, recording 130 yards on 12 catches for Washington State. For California, Devon Modster completed 16-of-24 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Christopher Brown Jr. (95 yards on 19 rush attempts, one TD) led the ground game in the win while Kekoa Crawford (four receptions, 58 yards) and Gavin Reinwald (three catches, 34 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack.
USC’s run the ball on 45 percent of its offensive possessions this year while California has a rush percentage of 58.1 percent. The Trojans have produced 133.1 rush yards per game (including 116.3 per game versus Pac-12 opponents) and have 13 scores via handoffs this year. The Golden Bears are totaling 125.7 rush yards per game (114.8 in conference) and have eight total rushing TDs.
If the numbers so far this season can translate to this game, then it’s looking like the Trojans could hold an edge when it comes to quarterback protection, since their offensive line has given up just 27 sacks while their D-line logged 29 sacks. The Golden Bears offensive line has allowed 36 sacks and their defense has sacked opposing QBs on just 31 occasions.
The Trojans offense has averaged 311 yards through the air overall (328.9 per game versus conference opposition) and has 25 passing scores so far. The Golden Bears have put up 182.9 pass yards per game (151 against Pac-12 competition) and have 13 total pass TDs.
Defensively, USC has let opponents run for an average of 170.3 yards and pass for 247.6 yards per game. The California defense has given up 234.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 144.6 yards per game on the ground. The Golden Bears are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.65 to opposing QBs, while the Trojans have given up a 6.49 ANY/A.
Modster has completed 51-of-100 passes for 610 yards, five TDs and three INTs. Modster’s adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at a mediocre 4.37 for the year and 10.73 over his last two games. In the other huddle, Slovis has amassed 2,057 passing yards this year. He’s completed 162-of-223 attempts with 17 passing touchdowns and six interceptions. Slovis has an 8.71 ANY/A for the year, although that number sits at 6.39 over the last two outings.
When these two programs faced one another last year, California got the victory 15-14.
USC Trojans at California Golden Bears Free Prediction
SU Winner: California, ATS Winner: California, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Over/Under for USC’s last game going into it was 54. The over cashed in the team’s 31-26 win over Arizona State.
- USC has produced 3.5 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.0 over its last two.
- California has averaged 3.3 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.8 over its past two.
- California has lost four fumbles this season while USC has lost seven.
- Over its last three games, USC is 0-2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- USC has won four of its last five games SU, with a 32-point loss to Oregon on November 2nd accounting for the only defeat over that span.
- The O/U for California’s last match was set at 52. The over cashed in the 33-20 victory over Washington State.
- Over its last three matches, California is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Trojans offense has registered 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Golden Bears have put up five such plays.
- The USC defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while California has given up five such plays.
- Both teams have produced 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards. The USC offense has recorded 36 running plays of 10+ yards while California has accounted for 43 such plays.
- The Trojans defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Golden Bears have given up eight such runs.
- The USC D has 25 sacks on the year while California has 22.
