Monday, January 2, 2017

Rose Bowl

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The USC Trojans take on the Penn State Nittany Lions on Monday, January 2, 2017 in the Rose Bowl. The opening line for this game has USC as 6.5 point favorites. This season the Trojans are 8-4-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 3-9-0. The Nittany Lions have an over/under record of 10-3-0 and they are 9-3-1 against the spread.

Sam Darnold finished with 205 yards through the air for USC in his last game. He completed 19 passes out of 29 attempts for a 66% completion percentage. The Trojans were led in rushing by Ronald Jones II, who finished with 134 yards on 16 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 8 yards per carry. Adoree' Jackson was the team leader in receiving with a total of 52 yards and 2 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 26 yards per reception. As a team in that game USC got a total of 23 first downs. Of those first downs, 12 came on the ground while 9 came through the air. They ran 68 total plays for 412 yards for the game. The Trojans ran for 207 yards on 38 attempts.

Trace McSorley finished with 384 yards passing for Penn State in his last contest. He went 22 for 31, resulting in a 71% completion percentage. The Nittany Lions were led on the ground by Saquon Barkley, who finished with 83 yards on 19 carries. He ended the game with an average of 4 yards per rush. Saeed Blacknall led the team in receiving with 155 yards and 6 catches. He finished the game with an average of 26 yards per reception. Penn State had 21 first downs total. 3 came from running the ball and 16 came from a pass. They ran 60 total plays for 435 yards for the contest. The Nittany Lions ran for 51 yards on 29 carries as a team.

USC scores 32.9 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 42nd in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 22.6 passes on 34.1 attempts for a 66.3 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 261.7 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 38th in college football. The Trojans run for an average of 206.5 yards per game on 39.3 attempts for an average of 5.3 yards per carry. That ranks them 39th in the nation. They also run 73.4 plays per contest and average 6.4 yards per play for an average of 468.2 yards per game, ranking their offense 28th overall this season. The Trojans average 24.1 first downs per game which ranks them 22nd in the country. They accumulate 65.7 penalty yards per game via 7.4 penalties, which ranks 15th in the nation.

USC allows 225.9 passing yards per game, ranking 64th in D-1, and they allow 22.2 points per contest on defense, which ranks 26th. They give up 19.4 completions on 34.3 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 56.7. The Trojans allow 133.1 rushing yards per game on 34.5 carries for an average of 3.9 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 28th in the country. USC allows 359 total yards per game including 5.2 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 30th in terms of yards per game. They force 1.4 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 4.8 penalties for 43.5 yards per game, ranking them 23rd among D-1 teams.

Penn State averages 36.7 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 25th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 16 passes per game on 27.8 attempts for a 57.5 percent completion percentage. They throw for 261.2 yards through the air per game, ranking them 39th in Division 1. The Nittany Lions run for an average of 172.2 yards per game on 38.7 attempts for an average of 4.4 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 71st on the ground. They also run 66.5 plays per game and average 6.5 yards per play for a total of 433.4 yards per game, ranking them 53rd in the country on offense. The Nittany Lions get an average of 20.2 first downs per game, which ranks 85th in the nation. They average 42.5 penalty yards per game via 4.8 penalties, ranking them 111th in college football.

Penn State allows an average of 198.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 26th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 23.4 points per contest, which has them ranked 35th in the nation. They give up 19.9 completions on 32.2 attempts for a completion percentage of 62 per game. The Nittany Lions allow 153.5 rushing yards per contest on 39.8 carries for a 3.9 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 48th in the country. Penn State allows 352 total yards per game for an average of 4.9 yards per play, which ranks 22nd in D-1. They force 1.5 turnovers per contest and 7 penalties for 61.1 yards in each contest, ranking 101st in the nation.

USC Betting Trends

USC is 3-9-0 against the over/under this season

USC has an ATS record of 8-4-0 this season

Penn State Betting Trends

Penn State is 10-3-0 against the over/under this season

Penn State has an ATS record of 9-3-1 this season

Injuries to Watch

USC

10/27/16 DT Kenny Bigelow Knee out for season
10/24/16 DE Jabari Ruffin Suspension out indefinitely
10/18/16 WR Steven Mitchell Knee out for season
09/28/16 DT Noah Jefferson Academics out indefinitely
09/21/16 T E.J. Price Personal out indefinitely
09/21/16 RB Vavae Malepeai Shoulder out indefinitely
09/18/16 DE Don Hill Suspension out indefinitely
09/14/16 DE Osa Masina Dismissed has left team
09/09/16 C Toa Lobendahn Knee out for season

Penn State

11/23/16 LB Von Walker Undisclosed out for season
11/17/16 G Brendan Mahon Undisclosed out indefinitely
11/17/16 T Paris Palmer Undisclosed out for season
10/25/16 OT Chance Sorrell Knee out for season
10/19/16 OT Andrew Nelson Knee out for season
09/26/16 LB Jan Johnson Leg out for season
09/24/16 TE Nick Bowers Undisclosed out for season
09/20/16 LB Nyeem Wartman-White Knee out for season

Josh's Pick: Take Penn State +6.5

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