College Football ATS Picks - USC at Washington State Game Preview

The USC Trojans keep finding ways to win. USC opened the season ranked in the Top 5 and have not faltered yet. There have been quite a few hiccups though. The Trojans have only convincingly defeated one opponent and needed quite a bit of luck to squeak by Texas last week. USC will go on the road for a second straight week but will play in a much tougher environment this Friday night. The Trojans must travel to Pullman to take on the Washington State Cougars and deal with rabid Wazzou fans.

This matchup in Week 5 of the regular season will take place on Friday, September 29, 2017,

at 10:30 p.m. ET at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington. This game will be broadcast on ESPN.

College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu

USC -4
Washington State +4
Over/Under: Check Back Later

Odds Analysis

The Cougars have been favored in every game so far this season. While the team wasn’t able to cover in its first two affairs, Washington State found a way to get the cover against Oregon State and Nevada these last two weeks. The Cougars defense has been great against lesser opponents, giving up seven points in under games against Montana State and Nevada, but was much more porous against Boise State and Oregon State.

USC is just 1-3 ATS this season. The Trojans struggled with Western Michigan and Cal and nearly lost to Texas at home, but somehow remain undefeated despite these troubles. This defense has continued to get better as the season has went on and that has helped a lot, even though they have allowed at least 20 in every game.

Player to Watch

Sam Darnold just hasn’t been that good this season. Darnold has completed a high percentage of his passes and is averaging 8.4 yards per pass attempt, but is turning the ball over way too much and has been overconfident with his arm.

Darnold already has just two less interceptions this year than last year in only four games. He is on pace to throw 20 interceptions this season and that’s a major problem for any team. There are no mechanical problems with his delivery that we can see, so maybe the hype of being the best quarterback in LA just got to his head. He no longer looks like a Heisman contender nor does he seem to be a lock to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft in April.

Key Stat

Everyone knows that Mike Leach wants to chuck the ball all over the place. Everywhere Leach has gone, that’s the offense he runs. Rather than bother with runs to change the tempo, he calls quick screens or short crossing routes in order to achieve the same result.

Lately though, Leach has been more keen on establishing a presence on the ground. Jamal Morrow is averaging 6.9 yards per carry and this offense is starting to develop a weapon it hasn’t had in the recent past. If the Cougars can keep defenses more honest by running the ball from time to time, this might be Wazzou’s best season yet.

Free ATS Pick

Pullman is going to be rocking on Friday night. Washington State has one of the most unique home field advantages in college football because of the remoteness of the campus and that will surprise some of these Trojans players.

The Cougars have likely been planning for this game since they knocked off Boise State three weeks ago. Washington State roasted Oregon State and Nevada these last two weeks but neither team is too hard to beat.

I’m going to call for the upset here. Washington State has made Pullman a house of horrors for enemy teams often recently. The Trojans are due to lose one of these close games and it might as well be this one.

College Football Odds: Washington State 20, USC 17

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