by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Nov 07, 2022
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Where to watch: FS1
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: USC -34
FanDuel: USC -33.5
BetMGM: USC -34.5
Caesars: USC -34
Season record
Colorado: 1-8 (1-5 Pac-12)
No. 9 USC: 8-1 (6-1 Pac-12)
We're coming down to the wire in what should be an exciting final month of the college football season. The conference championship chases are on, bowl games are to be decided, and who gets into the College Football Playoff is anybody's guess to this point. If you're still trying to figure out who's the best to play at this point of the year, look no further than our champion handicappers leading the way in the college football world. Our own Kyle Hunter is 23-8-0 over the last month, while Brian Bitler is 21-13-0 in the run. Kyle's reeled in a net profit of over $14,000. Now you feel like you should be getting on the action, huh? Make sure you go check out bigal.com to see all of the work our champion handicappers are trying to do to get money in YOUR pocket with our selections. Make sure to hit up our Best Bets page for more!
Colorado - USC preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Colorado: lost 49-10 vs. No. 8 Oregon
USC: won 41-35 vs. Cal
The USC Trojans have had it rough over the last few weeks, essentially having their College Football Playoff chances dashed unless some good things happen over the next few weeks. But they can take their anger out on the 1-win Colorado Buffaloes on Friday in Los Angeles after a few weeks of nearly letting things get away.
The USC Trojans have had it rough over the last few weeks, essentially having their College Football Playoff chances dashed unless some good things happen over the next few weeks. But they can take their anger out on the 1-win Colorado Buffaloes on Friday in Los Angeles after a few weeks of nearly letting things get away.
The Trojans started the year 6-0, then lost their first game of the year to Utah on Oct. 15. After that came two more wins against Arizona and Cal, but by a combined 14 points. That’s two teams at the bottom of the barrel in the Pac-12 and only coming away with one-score wins. That doesn’t seem right.
USC is coming off a 41-35 win over Cal last week that required the defense to get a reality check after giving up 406 yards and three touchdowns to quarterback Jack Plummer. USC quarterback Caleb Williams did his part by throwing for 360 yards and four touchdowns without Jordan Addison. Michael Jackson III caught 5 passes for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Tahj Washington reeled in 112 yards on 7 catches and a touchdown.
“We didn’t play our best on really any of the sides (of the ball),” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “Didn’t have a very good first half offensively. Did not finish the game well defensively. Made some big special teams plays, but also gave up a few. Obviously a lot to improve on. We know we’re going to have to improve, but if you can improve by winning, you’re going to be there in the end.”
How many points do you expect to score against Cal? 141? I mean, c’mon LIncoln, you’ve been in these same kind of shootouts against the Big 12 brethren. It’s the same situations where your defense isn’t always going to be great and whatnot.
I get USC isn’t that good right now and they’re missing some key pieces, but if they don’t obliterate Colorado the way it should, then maybe there should be some concern. The Buffaloes have lost three straight by giving up at least 42 points in each of those losses. You can even count to losing four of five when they gave up 43 to Arizona on Oct. 1. But hey, at least Colorado won in overtime against Cal … the same team that almost knocked off USC. College football is a wonderful chain reaction that doesn’t make any sense whatsoever, but I’m here for it.
Prediction
Colorado’s defense has given up 40 points per game this season while also nearly giving up 500 yards of offense per game. That’s not going to cut it against Colorado and if USC doesn’t win this game by at least four scores, what in the world do we even think of this group? There’s no way it should come to this. USC by 31
Betting trends
Colorado is 9-13 ATS as an underdog the last three years.
Colorado is 3-7 ATS as a road underdog the last three years; 0-4 ATS this season.
Colorado is 1-5 ATS off a home loss the last three years; 0-3 this season.
USC is 5-8 ATS as a home favorite the last three years; 3-2 this season.
USC is 10-11 ATS as a favorite the last three years; 4-4 ATS this season.
USC is 1-5 ATS the last three years after allowing 31 points or more in back-to-back games.
Statistical leaders
Colorado:
Passing: J.T. Shrout -- 976 yards, 6 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: Deion Smith -- 381 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Jordyn Tyson -- 470 yards, 4 TD
USC:
Passing: Caleb Williams -- 2,742 yards, 28 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Travis Dye -- 858 yards, 9 TD
Receiving: Jordan Addison -- 585 yards, 7 TD
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Colorado Buffaloes - USC Trojans prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily college football projections and previews.
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.
