by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Sep 30, 2022
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Where to watch: ESPN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: USC -25.5
FanDuel: USC -25.5
BetMGM: USC -25.5
Caesars: USC -25.5
Season record
Arizona State: 1-3 (0-1 Pac-12)
No. 6 USC: 4-0 (2-0 Pac-12)
What a big week and some fun shake up in the top 25, as we enter Week 5 of the college football campaign. And what a week it was for our own Wayne Root with a 7-1-0 stint to continue what has been a strong start for our champion handicappers through the early stages of this college football season. But now things are going to get interesting with conference play underway and some big-time matchups in the coming weeks. You're going to want to follow our top-notch handicappers if you want to get on this action. Make sure you visit our Best Bets page to find out more.
Arizona State - USC preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Arizona State: lost 34-13 vs. No. 13 Utah
USC: won 17-14 at Oregon State
We’re not overthinking this, right? We’re not really going to sit here and analyze the potential for the Arizona State Sun Devils coming anywhere close to beating the USC Trojans, right? We can just sit here and talk about how USC’s offense is likely to just decimate Arizona State now that Herm Edwards is gone and everything else is just chalk, right? Good, because that’s exactly what’s going to happen. And quite honestly, the 25.5 might seem too generous. Sure, USC is coming off just a 3-point win over Oregon State in what was a tough game and a sign that the Beavers are on the come-up in the Pac-12. But USC is still 4-0 with two conference wins under the belt and the combination of Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison is ridiculous right now. Addison scored the game-winning 21-yard score with a minute left to avoid the upset from Oregon State. Williams struggled (16 of 36, 180 yards) but made the plays with the game on the line.
We’re not overthinking this, right? We’re not really going to sit here and analyze the potential for the Arizona State Sun Devils coming anywhere close to beating the USC Trojans, right? We can just sit here and talk about how USC’s offense is likely to just decimate Arizona State now that Herm Edwards is gone and everything else is just chalk, right? Good, because that’s exactly what’s going to happen. And quite honestly, the 25.5 might seem too generous. Sure, USC is coming off just a 3-point win over Oregon State in what was a tough game and a sign that the Beavers are on the come-up in the Pac-12. But USC is still 4-0 with two conference wins under the belt and the combination of Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison is ridiculous right now. Addison scored the game-winning 21-yard score with a minute left to avoid the upset from Oregon State. Williams struggled (16 of 36, 180 yards) but made the plays with the game on the line.
"I'm probably more proud of this win then the previous three," Trojans coach Lincoln Riley said. "We had to find different ways to win tonight. We got in a slugfest."
Travis Dye was also a force on the ground, going for 133 yards and a score. We talk a lot about Williams and Addison stealing the show, but with Dye, if they can get a balance together, that’s going to make USC a legit championship contender. That balance, even when they’re struggling to pass the ball, makes the Trojans more dangerous than anticipated. Which is why it wouldn’t be a shock for them to just coast through conference season and play for a conference title.
I was talking with a buddy who went to Arizona State and before I could even talk about the football program, he went on a 1-hour rant about the whole Herm Edwards situation. Just how he was supposed to be the one to put Arizona State back on the map and lead the Sun Devils to prominence, only for him to come to the conclusion that pro football coaches turning into college coaches are bad for the health of anyone because they always screw up the rules, at least that’s what he tells me.
Nevertheless, Arizona State lost 34-13 at home to No. 13 Utah last weekend. Emory Jones continues to prove he’s not a good quarterback with two interceptions, and Arizona State’s running game had six total yards on 20 carries because Jones had 11 carries for -26 yards. If you’re counting at home, he was sacked five times. He was bad in Florida and now he’s showing he’s awful in Tempe.
''If I don't make adjustments, shame on me,'' ASU interim coach Shaun Aguano said. ''These kids need to get the best of us as a coaching staff.''
Well, that’s one reason they fired the other one, amongst other things. Maybe we should reevaluate the whole situation, huh?
Prediction
If this game isn’t over by halftime, the bettors should be rioting in the streets. USC by 35
Betting trends
Arizona State is 3-3 ATS in its last six as an underdog.
Arizona State is 1-6 ATS off two straight home losses in its last seven.
USC is 9-8 ATS in its last 17 as a favorite.
Statistical leaders
Arizona State:
Passing: Emory Jones -- 818 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Xazavian Valladay -- 391 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Elijhah Badger -- 293 yards, 1 TD
USC:
Passing: Caleb Williams -- 1,054 yards, 9 TD
Rushing: Travis Dye -- 360 yards, 3 TD
Receiving: Jordan Addison -- 337 yards, 6 TD
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
