Are the USC Trojans ready to once again be the team to beat in the PAC-12? USC enters the season with lofty expectations and a Top 5 ranking, but we have seen that script end in utter disarray before. Quarterback Sam Darnold is the main reason for the optimism but he will be playing behind an offensive line that loses three of its starters from last season and no longer has his two leading receivers from 2016. The Trojans will start the season with the Western Michigan Broncos, but things quickly ratchet up from there.
This contest in Week 1 of the regular season will go down Saturday, September 2, 2017, at 5:15
p.m. ET at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.
College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Western Michigan +27
USC -27
Over/Under 58
Odds Analysis
Western Michigan is coming off the best season in program history under former head coach PJ Fleck. Fleck led the Broncos to a 13-0 record in the regular season and the Group of Five spot in the New Year’s Day games. Western Michigan ended up losing to Wisconsin but hung within a single possession and ended up with a cover. The Broncos went 10-4 ATS last season and won two games against Big 10 foes in the regular season.
The Trojans started off slow last season, but ended the year scorching hot. USC lost three of its first four and was thumped by Alabama and Stanford, but rallied after that. This team won its last nine games of the season and put up a 7-2 ATS mark in those games. The defense was great for most of the season and the under ended up going 9-5 in Trojans games.
Player to Watch
All eyes are on Darnold entering the season. He is considered one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy and led the turnaround of USC’s 2016 season.
Darnold is a very efficient quarterback. He completed at least 60 percent of his passes in every start and finished the season with 31 touchdowns against just nine interceptions. Right now, he is seen as the probable No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and should be able to light up a Western Michigan defense that has some issues.
His leadership will be on display in the first game of the season. This offense is very inexperienced and needs a firm hand to guide the ship. If he can be that steady leader, the sky is the limit for the Trojans this year.
Coaching Angle
Hiring Tim Lester was a curious move for the Broncos. He is one of the best quarterbacks in program history, but hasn’t experienced much success as a coach and only recently returned to the FBS level after coaching a Division-III school for five seasons.
Lester worked at Syracuse under Scott Shafer from 2013 to 2015 and those offenses just weren’t that good. Last year, he was the quarterbacks coach at Purdue, and although the Boilermakers threw for a lot of yards, most of that was in garbage time.
It’s nice to hire a former program star, but Lester probably wasn’t ready and it will take some time for him to adapt to being a head coach.
Free ATS Pick
If Fleck was still at Western Michigan, many would be calling for an upset here. Although the Broncos don’t have much of their offense from last season, they do return most of their important defensive pieces. The linebackers are especially solid and they should be able to limit USC’s production on the ground.
There are too many questions for the Broncos on offense though. Quarterback Jon Wassink has yet to throw a snap at the collegiate level and his top three receivers are all sophomores. USC’s defense will be able to shut this offense down and cruise to a victory.
College Football Odds: Trojans 45, Broncos 13
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
