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2024 USC Trojans Football Predictions and Betting Odds

by Joey House - 8/19/2024

USC Trojans football predictions Miller Moss

2023 record: 8-5 SU 4-9 ATS

PPG: 41.8 (3rd of 133),

Opp PPG: 34.4 (121st of 133)

Head Coach: Lincoln Riley (29-8 in two seasons)

Wisconsin 2024 Reg. Season Wins Over 7.5, +105 Under 7.5 -125

Big Ten Champ. Game Winner +2000

Make 2024-2025 CFP +400

Win Nation Title +8000

USC Trojans 2023 Recap

Coming off a successful double-digit wins season in 2022 and with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner returning, expectations were sky-high for the "men of Troy" in their final season in the now-defunct Pac-12 conference. While the offense was as good as advertised, the defense was atrocious, and the Trojans stumbled to an 8-5 record. USC managed to defeat a Louisville squad in the Holiday Bowl without the Trojans' star QB, Caleb Williams, and a handful of other players who opted out.

Now that they have left the " defensively challenged" Pac-12 and entered the hard-nosed Big Ten, the public does not seem to expect much of the USC Trojans in their inaugural season in their new conference. Yet a glance at the preseason Big Ten odds shows that Vegas thinks a bit more of the Trojans, as they have installed them as the 5th-shortest odds to win the conference and the second-highest newcomer after Oregon. With Lincoln Riley, one of the great young offensive minds, guiding the program, could USC become "Cinderella" and crash the dance of the new 12-team College Football Playoff?

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USC Trojans Offense (5 starters returning)

Any time you move on from a Heisman Trophy-winning QB, there are some growing pains. However, USC's head coach has produced three Heisman winners and another finalist. Junior Miller Moss will likely be the starting QB when USC opens against LSU on Sept. 1st. I wouldn't be surprised to see sophomore Jayden Maiva, a transfer from UNLV, who was the Mountain West Offensive Freshman of the Year and second-team Mountain West player by the end of the season. There is plenty of talent at the skill positions, and a tight end, Duce Robinson, will likely be a high 2nd-round, low 1st-round NFL draft selection. The offensive line is almost average in experience, with 71 career starts returning.

USC Trojans Defense (9 starters returning)

The Trojan faithful are hopeful that the new defensive coordinator, D'Anton Lynn, will do better than his predecessor. USC brings back the 1st-team Pac-12 nose guard Bear Alexander, who originally cut his teeth in the SEC at Georgia. The linebacking corps brings in Oregon State's leading tackler, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold. The secondary is completely revamped, with two former UCLA starters and starters from Oregon State and Mississippi State. So, while these players may be new to the USC system, they bring a wealth of experience from their other schools. They can't help but improve on a defense that surrendered 433 yards per game and 34.4 points.

USC Trojans Schedule

Sports Illustrated ranks the Trojans' schedule as the 9th-toughest in the nation, and they get no argument from me. USC opens up against LSU on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Then they host nonconference Utah State, which may be more challenging than it looks. Then, the Trojans are welcomed to their new conference with a trip to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan. Immediately following the Wolverines are the Badgers of Wisconsin. The road games for USC all look tricky: Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington. The game against their cross-town rival UCLA is technically a road game, but nothing like the cross-country trek to take on Maryland. USC ends with another traditional rival, Notre Dame. From the preseason polls, the Trojans play four teams ranked in the top 25, three of which reside in the Top Ten.

USC Trojans Football Predictions

Besides being a brilliant offensive mind, Riley is a fantastic recruiter and knows how to play the portal game very well. USC gets a little break in the season opener, as the game will be played in Reliant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Trojans' second break is having a bye week before traveling to Michigan. Even though it's just two games into the season, I think that could be a perfect respite to iron out some kinks in the offense or defense. The over in the Trojans win total is +105, which represents tremendous value. There are six definite wins for the taking and a couple of toss-up games. While they play Michigan and Penn State, the Trojans miss Ohio State and Oregon. I'm calling for the Trojans to go 8-4 and cash the over in their season win totals.

USC Trojans Game to Key On

The Trojans home nonconference game against Utah State could be a tricky one. The Aggies bring in Iowa transfer Spencer Petras, who had over 30 starts for the Hawkeyes. Utah State is used to playing big schools in hostile environments, so they won't be easily intimidated. Finally, the Aggies relish being big underdogs, where they are 4-2 in their last six nonconference games where they are double-digit dogs. This game gets even juicer if USC defeats LSU on the opening weekend and becomes a prime candidate for a letdown. I'm not calling for the outright upset, but I believe Utah State can cover.

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