Penn State is one of the hottest teams in the country, as the Nittany Lions have won nine straight games while going 8-0-1 ATS in that span. Not to be outdone, Penn State’s Rose Bowl opponent, USC, has gone 8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS in its past eight outings.
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of USC's last 8 games.
- Penn State is 6-0 SU in its last 6 games against teams with winning records.
- Penn State is 4-1 ATS as an underdog this season.
Penn State was outclassed in the first half of the Big Ten title game but overcame a 21-point halftime deficit to claim the conference crown. That comeback was largely due to the performance of Trace McSorley, as the quarterback went 22 of 31 for 384 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, setting the Big Ten championship record for passing yards and TDs. McSorley has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation during Penn State’s winning streak, as the sophomore has thrown 19 touchdowns and just two picks in the past nine games.
Defensively, Penn State is all about getting after the quarterback, with the Nittany Lions accounting for 39.0 sacks on the year, which is tied for the 10th most in the nation. Five different players have recorded at least three sacks for Penn State but it is defensive end Garrett Sickels who is the biggest threat to blow up plays. The secondary is solid but has shown some cracks throughout the season.
Many people were ready to write off USC after a 1-3 SU start to the season, but all three of those losses came against ranked opponents. Since then, the Trojans have been flawless thanks to an offense that has averaged 38.4 points per game. Freshman Sam Darnold has had his struggles at the quarterback position but has leaned on Ronald Jones II, who has averaged 148.5 rushing yards while notching nine touchdowns in the past five games.
USC has made plenty of adjustments defensively as well, with the team allowing just 18.6 ppg during its winning streak. The Trojans are stout at the point of attack with Cameron Smith, Porter Gustin and Michael Hutchings forming the backbone of the 26th-ranked rushing defense in the country. The issue has been the secondary, which has been rather pedestrian aside from Adoree' Jackson.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The visiting USC Trojans opened as -6.5-point favorites in this one at Sportsbook and most sportsbooks tracked here at Odds Shark. No total had been posted as of writing time check the live lines pages in the coming days to see where the number opened.
Prediction-scoring formulas run on this game pointed to a potential 38-34 result in favor of the Trojans early in the week. That outcome may change during the week, if injuries alter the models, so check the college football picks page before game time. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NCAAF matchups here.
USC Trojans vs Penn State Nittany Lions Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
This season the Penn State Nittany Lions are 11-2 overall and 9-3-1 ATS against the spread, while the Trojans are 9-3 and 8-4 ATS. As for the totals, Penn State is 10-3 on the OU, and USC is 3-9 Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Penn State vs USC injuries news.
It's a betting matchup between the No. 13-rated Penn State Nittany Lions and the No. 12-ranked USC Trojans, according to the NCAA College Football Power Rankings here at Odds Shark.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Penn State's No. 25-ranked offense, averaging 36.69 PPG, against a USC defense that ranks No. 24 this week at 22.17 PPG. The Penn State aerial game is averaging 261.23 yards per game, more than the USC Trojans secondary allows through the air, 225.92 YPG per game.
Defensively, the USC Trojans feature the league's No. 51-rated road run defense, allowing 166 yards per game. Penn State, meanwhile, ranks No. 82 in rushing offense at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Ronald Jones II went over the 100-yard mark (134) in his team's latest effort as USC defeated Notre Dame by a score of 45-27 on Saturday.
In Penn State's last outing, Trace McSorley threw for 384 yards to lead the Nittany Lions over Wisconsin 38-31 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
- Southern California is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
- Southern California is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Southern California's last 8 games
- Penn State is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
- Penn State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Penn State's last 6 games
