CFB Pick – LSU vs. USC
Sunday, September 1st, 7:30 PM EST – Las Vegas
The college football season kicks off with a bang as the LSU Tigers take on the USC Trojans in a neutral-site showdown in Las Vegas. Both teams are entering their third year under their respective coaches, Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley, and both are looking to build on solid but not spectacular campaigns from last year.
Betonline and BetAnySports have LSU favored by 4.5 with a total of 64.5. LSU opened -6.5 with USC attracting the early action.
LSU Tigers: Looking to Roar Again
LSU finished 10-3 last season, but their record against top-25 opponents was a concerning 1-3. They’ll be looking to improve on that mark in Coach Kelly’s third year, but they’ll have to do it with a revamped offense. While they return six starters on both sides of the ball, they lost their star quarterback, raising questions about how potent their attack will be. LSU has historically struggled in season openers, losing their last 4.
USC Trojans: Entering a New Era
USC is also undergoing a transition. They’re moving to the Big 10 this year, and they’ll be looking to make a statement. Like LSU, they’re replacing their star quarterback, but they return nine starters on defense, a unit that struggled mightily last year. The Trojans gave up 28 or more points a whopping 11 times last season!
Key Matchup: Defense vs. Offense
Both teams have questions on offense, but the biggest question mark might be USC’s defense. Can they slow down an LSU offense that averaged over 40 points per game nine times last year? If they can’t, this game could turn into a shootout.
Prediction: USC +5
Our model predicts a high-scoring affair, with LSU winning 51-43. However, both teams have lost their star quarterbacks, which could lead to lower-scoring games than last year. LSU has also struggled in recent season openers, and USC will have the majority of the crowd support in Las Vegas.
It’s also worth noting that the last time LSU played a PAC 12 team was in 2021, also in their opener, and they lost to UCLA 38-27.
We think USC can keep this game close and possibly even pull off the upset. Take USC +5.