USC Trojans vs. Colorado Buffaloes Prediction & Game Preview - 1/20/2022

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: CU Events Center, Boulder, CO

Where to watch: PAC-12

DraftKings: USC -1.5

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: USC -1.5

No. 16 USC: 14-2 (4-2 Pac-12)

Colorado: 12-4 (4-2 Pac-12)

I’m willing to give the USC Trojans one more chance, because this is almost comical at this point.

I’m taking the Trojans over the Colorado Buffaloes, almost begrudgingly, on the road Thursday in Boulder. Given the way things unfolded Saturday against the Oregon Ducks, it should be a hot minute before I believe in them again.

But part of me has this sadistic mindset that the Trojans will get it together and pull out of this funk since returning to the court from a slight COVID pause at the end of last calendar year.

The Trojans are coming off a 79-69 loss to Oregon for their second loss in three games after starting 13-0. It’s not just the fact that USC lost their first two games of the season, but rather in the fashion and the opponents. Oregon perhaps not as bad because how the Ducks were able to defeat USC and UCLA within a week’s span but losing to a lowly Stanford team on the road does not bode well.

Isaiah Mobley and Boogie Ellis had 18 points each (Ellis needed 21 shots to get to that point), as USC shot just 41.7 percent from the field and fell apart defensively.

On the books, USC has dropped six of its last eight against the spread and three in a row; the Trojans were 14-point favorites in their 10-point win against Oregon State last week. USC opens up as 1-point favorites against this 12-win Colorado team, so it’s essentially a pick-your-poison situation if you really believe in the Buffaloes.

But if this COVID issue that forced USC to halt its momentum carries on, things could go south very quickly in Southern California. The Trojans still have Arizona, UCLA twice and Oregon in Eugene on the schedule. They need to get back on track in the worst way and Colorado might be the team to do that.

USC, however, is only 3-3 against conference teams against the spread this season. The good news is USC tends to bounce back, winning five of its last six against the spread following a loss by 10 points or more to a conference opponent.

It might be insanity, or just that I believe in USC that much to see them rebound just in time for the NCAA Tournament. Give me the Trojans. USC by 10

The over is 4-0 in USC's last four games.

The under is 9-2 in USC's last 11 against a team with a winning record.

Colorado is 1-6 ATS in its last seven following an ATS win.

The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five.

PG: Ethan Anderson

SG: Boogie Ellis
SF: Drew Peterson
PF: Chevez Goodwin
C: Isaiah Mobley

PG: McKinley Wright

SG: Elijah Parquet
SF: DShawn Schwartz
PF: Evan Battey
C: Dallas Walton