USC at Ohio State Cotton Bowl Picks and Predictions 12/29/2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

AT&T Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Ohio State Buckeyes host the USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium on Friday, December 29, 2017. The opening line for this game has Ohio State as 6 point favorites. The Buckeyes have an over/under record of 9-4-0 and they are 6-7-0 against the spread. The Trojans have an ATS record of 3-9-1 while their over/under record is 8-5-0.

Valuable USC Trojans Betting Trends

The USC Trojans are 8-5-0 against the over/under

The USC Trojans are 3-9-1 against the spread

Important Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 9-4-0 against the over/under

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 6-7-0 against the spread

Key USC Trojans Injuries

11/01/17 DE Porter Gustin Toe is out indefinitely
10/30/17 RB James Toland IV Shoulder is out indefinitely
10/18/17 DT Kenny Bigelow Personal is out for season
10/10/17 DT Marlon Tuipulotu Back out for season
10/06/17 CB Greg Johnson Shoulder out for season
10/06/17 S Isaiah Pola-Mao Shoulder out for season
10/04/17 CB Keyshawn Young Hamstring out for season
10/04/17 G Viane Talamaivao Pectoral out for season
09/16/17 LB Tayler Katoa Knee out for season
09/12/17 PK Michael Brown Knee out for season

Key Ohio State Buckeyes Injuries

12/03/17 LB Dante Booker Concussion is "?" Friday vs USC
12/03/17 CB Shaun Wade Undisclosed is "?" Friday vs USC
10/28/17 S Eric Glover-Williams Dismissed is out for season
10/08/17 OL Branden Bowen Leg out for season
09/25/17 DT Malik Barrow Knee out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The USC Trojans have run for 2,540 yards as a team, which ranks 31st in college football. They've run 506 times, averaging 5 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Trojans have been penalized on offense 104 times for 940 yards so far this season, which has them 3rd in the country in penalties. They are 18th in the nation in points scored with 449. They have run 952 plays this season for 6,370 yards, which ranks them 12th in Division 1 in total offense. The Trojans average 6.7 yards per play, which is 15th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 317 1st downs this year, placing them 6th overall as an offensive unit. Sam Darnold averages 8.4 yards per pass attempt and 8.3 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 260 passes on 411 attempts for a completion percentage of 63.3%. His quarterback rating this year is 147.4. He has thrown for 3,462 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Trojans rush defense has allowed 471 attempts for 2,067 yards this year, putting them in 71st place in D-1 against the run. USC has committed 91 penalties for 754 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 105th in college football. They are 79th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 342. They have surrendered a total of 5,272 yards on D, which is 101st in the country. The Trojans are ranked 74th in yards per play allowed with 5.7. Opposing offenses have completed 247 passes on 458 attempts against the USC Trojans defense this season, placing them 105th and 124th in Division 1. The USC pass defense has also given up a total of 3,205 yards through the air, which is 117th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The USC Trojans have attempted 16 field goals this season and made 12, which is 85th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 75%. USC Trojans kickers have made 98% of their extra points, going 57 for 59 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,083 yards on 49 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That places them 67th in Division 1 in punting average. USC is ranked 47th in the nation in punt returns with 20. They've accumulated 228 punt return yards and average 11.9 yards per return, which is 18th in college football. They have returned 35 kicks for 823 yards on special teams, ranking 39th in kick return yardage. The Trojans average 24 yards per kick return and they are 7th in the country in all-purpose yards with 7,420.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Buckeyes are 5th in the country in points scored with 553. They have run 974 plays this year for 6,807 yards, which ranks them 21st in Division 1 in total offense. The Ohio State Buckeyes average 7 yards per play, which is 10th in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 341 1st downs this season, ranking them 1st overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Ohio State has run for 3,253 yards as a unit, which ranks 9th in college football. They've run 553 times, averaging 5.9 yards per rush as a unit. Ohio State has been penalized on offense 94 times for 913 yards so far this year, which has them 12th in the country in penalties. J.T. Barrett has passed for 2,717 yards this year. He's completed 216 throws while attempting 327 passes for a completion percentage of 66.1%. His quarterback rating this season is 164.9. He averages 9.4 adjusted yards per throw and 8.3 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Ohio State is 31st in the country in points surrendered on defense with 259. They have given up a total of 3,800 yards on D, which is 15th in D-1. The Buckeyes are 5th in yards per play allowed with 4.4. Opponent offenses have completed 220 throws on 402 attempts against the Ohio State defense this season, ranking them 66th and 92nd in the nation. The Ohio State Buckeyes pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,386 yards in the air, which is 33rd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 465 attempts for 1,414 yards this season, putting them in 14th place in the country against the run. The Buckeyes have had 81 penalties for 686 yards on defense this year. That places them 83rd in college football.

Special Teams Stats

Ohio State is 5th in the country in punt returns with 31. They've totaled 165 punt return yards and average 5.3 yards per return, which is 99th in D-1. They have returned 29 kicks for 679 yards on special teams, which puts them 69th in kick return yardage. The Ohio State Buckeyes average 24 yards per kick return and they are 4th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 7,651. The Buckeyes have tried 20 field goals this year and made 16, which is 73rd in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 80%. Ohio State kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 68 for 68 this season. Their punters have accumulated 1,934 yards on 44 punts, averaging 44 yards per punt. That ranks them 23rd in the NCAA in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Trojans/Buckeyes college football game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Trojans +6

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald