As bad as things have gone for USC over the past few weeks, the Trojans can move right back into the Pac-12 South race and save their season by knocking off No. 3 Utah on Saturday. The Utes have cleared every hurdle so far and a game at the Coliseum figures to be their toughest remaining obstacle on the road to a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Utes could be inspired by a perceived lack of respect, with oddsmakers having them as an underdog against the 3-3 Trojans.
ODDS
USC hit the board as a 3.5-point favorite with the total at 58. Apparently oddsmakers like USC’s talent and homefield advantage, as do bettors, since the line hasn’t moved since opening. The smart play is always on the best team, and that’s Utah.
KEY MISMATCH
Utah is relentless in creating turnovers and is one of four teams leading the nation with 13 interceptions. That’s not good for usually accurate USC quarterback Cody Kessler, who has been picked off twice in consecutive games for the first time in his career. Kessler was third in the county in completion percentage through four games, but it’s been a different story in back-to-back losses. Kessler completed just 61.3 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and four interceptions against Washington and Notre Dame. He had one multi-interception game in his first 32. USC could be without receivers Darreus Rogers and Steven Mitchell Jr., who missed practice this week with injuries. The Trojans already lost starting center Max Tuerk and could also be without tackle Chad Wheeler, who was experiencing concussion-like symptoms, putting even more strain on the USC passing attack.
KEY STAT
+12 – Utah’s turnover margin. The Utes have the second-highest margin in the country and have 19 takeaways on the year. USC has turned the ball over seven times but five giveaways have come in the last two games.
BETTING ANGLE
The season has mostly gone wrong for the Trojans, who are 3-3 overall and 1-2 in Pac-12 play, and down a head coach after Steve Sarkisian was let go on Oct. 12. USC has lost its last two games – at home to Washington and at Notre Dame – despite having talent that man-to-man could be the best in the Pac-12. Not much has changed in that regard from the start of the season. The question now is: can interim coach Clay Helton keep USC from playing out the string after hopes of a CFP appearance were dashed? There’s still time to save the season, but it’s impossible to know what a collection of young men is thinking. They could throw in the towel and call it a season. Or they could rally behind their new coach and fight back. With a win Saturday USC is right back in the Pac-12 South race. The oddsmakers agree. Because of all that talent, the unranked Trojans are favored by a field goal over the undefeated and No. 3 Utes.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Utah is physical, efficient and fundamentally sound in all phases of the game. The Utes are exactly the kind of opponent USC struggles with. While the Trojans have the better athletes, Utah has the better team. The Utes don’t hurt themselves. The defense creates turnovers and the offense takes advantage. Devontae Booker is a stud and he scoots behind an offensive line that abuses defenders. Utah is a lot like Stanford in that they dominate in the trenches. And while SC has flashy receivers and running backs, you can’t do anything without the horses up front. And Utah has the horses. If Utah’s run was going to end this would be the place. But the Utes are a flat out better team. USC will get the occasional explosive play and likely stay close, but Utah will outlast them and in the end come away with another statement win.
Utah 33, USC 31
The college football odds for this game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The Trojans were pegged as 3.5-point chalk while the total opened at 58. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
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! The game between the Utah Utes and USC Trojans will start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The contest will be broadcast live on FOX.
