by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Nov 17, 2022
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Where to watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: USC -2
FanDuel: USC -2.5
BetMGM: USC -2.5
Caesars: USC -2.5
Season record
No. 7 USC: 9-1 (7-1 Pac-12)
No. 16 UCLA: 8-2 (5-2 Pac-12)
The college football fun never stops and we're inching closer to conference championship season. A lot of big games are still to be determined in who will play whom and where, and our top-notch handicappers have been at the forefront for the last month or so providing you with the winners you need to head into December with some confidence in your pocket. How can you be so sure? Of course you have to look at the likes of Kyle Hunter going 20-8-0 over the last 30 days, as well as Will Rogers at 22-14-0 over the last month. What about Vegas Writer? He's sitting at 12-6-1 over the last 30 days since joining our team of champion handicappers that has been killing it everywhere this year. You see the success rate. You need to be on board to join our guys who can get you where you need to go for the homestretch of the college football season. Make sure you're keeping tabs here at bigal.com to find out what our champion handicappers are thinking in all sports!
USC - UCLA preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
USC: won 55-17 vs. Colorado
UCLA: lost 34-28 vs. Arizona
Here we go. The Pac-12 explodes like hell after this week. Oregon and Utah fight for a spot in the Pac-12 title game, and so do the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans in what might be the most hyped-up battle for Los Angeles we’ve seen in quite some time.
Here we go. The Pac-12 explodes like hell after this week. Oregon and Utah fight for a spot in the Pac-12 title game, and so do the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans in what might be the most hyped-up battle for Los Angeles we’ve seen in quite some time.
Yes, this still rings true after UCLA lost to Arizona last week. A win for UCLA would cause chaos at the top of the conference with Oregon and Utah still trying to figure things out. But for the first time, we can definitively say that UCLA and USC are on the same level playing field heading into this showdown.
But let’s start with that Arizona game, where Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura had three touchdowns and did something that not many can say they’ve done: outplay UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson. DTR had 245 yards and a touchdown through the air, and running back Zach Charbonnet had 181 yards and three touchdowns. What went wrong? DTR just couldn’t make the plays necessary to win a game.
"We got a shot at the end, we were probably a step away from making a play," UCLA coach Chip Kelly said. "We were kind of a step away on a few things tonight. Against a good quarterback you can't do that. That's the end verdict and how we lost."
UCLA fell to No. 16 in the College Football Playoff poll, hindering their chances greatly of anything major unless they win the conference title. That would mean, at the very least, a Rose Bowl spot. But USC is at No. 7 and could find itself in the playoff if it runs the table.
The Trojans, who have not had top receiver Jordan Addison due to injury, put up 55 points in their 55-17 win against Colorado last week. Caleb Williams threw for three touchdowns, including a 61-yarder to Tahj Washington who has continued to step up in Addison’s absence as Williams’ top target.
But that was the least of USC’s problems. Running back Travis Dye, who left the game with an air cast on his left leg. The Oregon transfer’s absence will be a big one.
''There's no way we would be sitting here as a football team if it wasn't for him,'' coach Lincoln Riley said.
Austin Jones took over the leading rusher duties with 74 yards on 11 carries. Raleek Brown added 52 on 7 carries.
It’s going to be an incredible game that should feature a lot of points and a lot of big plays from the quarterbacks. If you’ve ever felt like taking the over, this might be it.
Prediction
No Dye, no Addison, but Williams has proven to be good all year long no matter who’s around him. This epic game will come down to the last drive, and USC will show why it might have the Heisman Trophy favorite on its team. USC by 3
Betting trends
USC is 13-4 ATS in road games off 3 straight overs since 1992.
USC is 36-20 ATS after winning 6 or 7 out of 8 since 1992.
UCLA is 29-13 ATS after allowing 31 points or more in 2 straight games since 1992.
UCLA is 24-8 ATS in home games after 2 straight games where the total exceeded 60 since 1992.
Statistical leaders
USC:
Passing: Caleb Williams -- 3,010 yards, 31 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Travis Dye -- 884 yards, 9 TD
Receiving: Jordan Addison -- 587 yards, 7 TD
UCLA:
Passing: Dorian Thompson-Robinson -- 2,385 yards, 20 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Zach Charbonnet -- 1,145 yards, 13 TD
Receiving: Jake Bobo -- 651 yards, 6 TD
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this USC Trojans - UCLA Bruins 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.
