College Football Predictions: Will USC cover at home vs. Utah? 10/14/17
Can No. 13 USC beat Utah by two touchdowns or more when these Pac-12 foes square off tonight at 8PM ET? Here’s our College Football Predictions for this contest.
ODDS
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, USC is favored in this game, as the Trojans are getting odds of -13 points against Utah. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 52.5 points. USC has won four of its last six meetings with Utah, but the Utes have covered the spread in five of their last eight against the Trojans. Tonight’s game takes place from L.A. Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California and will air live on ABC.
USC
USC is coming off a 38-10 win at home over Oregon State. The Trojans are now 5-1 on the season and 3-1 in the Pac-12. The Trojans are just 1-5 against the spread on the season. USC has an offense that is averaging 35.5 points and 467.8 yards per game. Sam Darnold has thrown for 1,705 yards and 12 touchdowns, but also has 9 interceptions. Ronald Jones II has 529 rushing yards with seven touchdowns while Deontay Burnett has 41 receptions for 527 yards and six scores. Defensively, USC is allowing just 23.2 points and 377 yards per game.
UTAH
Utah is coming off a 23-20 loss at home to Stanford to fall to 4-1 on the season and 1-1 in the Pac-12. The Utes are 4-0-1 against the spread on the season, including 2-0 ATS on the road. Utah has a pretty solid defense, allowing just 18.4 points and 314 yards per game. On offense, Utah is averaging 32 points and 430.6 yards per game. Starting QB Tyler Huntley has a shoulder injury that will keep him out this week and going forward. Troy Williams will get the start. He has thrown for 369 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Darren Carrington II has been the top receiver with 37 catches for 584 yards and five touchdowns while Zack Moss is the leading rusher with 344 yards and three scores.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS
Despite the injury to Huntley, Utah is still a team that won’t be easy to get past. The Utes have played everyone tough and have been able to cover every spread they have faced this season. Now they are getting 13 points against a USC team that has had trouble covering and is turnover prone. USC has looked shaky in their last two at home and have covered in just one of four at home this year. I like the Utes with the points.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS: UTAH +13
