USC hosts Utah this week in PAC-12 college football action. The Trojans opened as a -4 point favorite and have been bet down to -3 this week. The current total on the game is 52.5.
USC sits at 3-2, 2-2 in conference play. To date, it’s been a disappointing season. They have suffered through a coaching change and the program in general is in a holding pattern. Coaches and players are uncertain of their futures and that makes things difficult for an otherwise talented bunch.
Utah is also 3-2. They have played just one conference game and sit at 1-0, still very much in the hunt in the PAC-12 South division. Their two losses came against BYU and San Diego State.
Recent History
11/21/2020 Southern Cal 33 - 3.0 at Utah 17 9/20/2019 Utah 23 - 3.5 at Southern Cal 30 10/20/2018 Southern Cal 28 + 7.0 at Utah 41 10/14/2017 Utah 27 +13.0 at Southern Cal 28 9/23/2016 Southern Cal 27 + 3.0 at Utah 31 10/24/2015 Utah 24 + 6.5 at Southern Cal 42 10/25/2014 Southern Cal 21 + 0.0 at Utah 24 10/26/2013 Utah 3 + 6.0 at Southern Cal 19 10/ 4/2012 Southern Cal 38 -14.0 at Utah 28 9/10/2011 Utah 14 + 8.5 at Southern Cal 23
So we have two teams who both had huge expectations coming into the 2021 college football season, both off to mediocre starts and in somewhat of a desperation mode.
The series has ben competitive as you can see from the games listed above from the last decade. USC has won the last two, so perhaps some added incentive for the Utes here to get back into the win column.
All of the numbers we like to use in the handicapping process suggest that perhaps USC has the slightest of edges here. That “slight” edge is also reflected in our models prediction, a 1 point USC win.
With all of that in mind, combined with the double revenge factor for Utah, we’re goin grab the field goal with the underdog Utes here in what should be a game decided late.