The No. 7 Oregon Ducks (-4.5) are set to pay a visit to their conference nemesis USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The matchup is scheduled to get going at 8:00 p.m. ET and spectators can watch the action on FOX.
Betting Preview: USC Trojans vs. Oregon Ducks
In this Saturday Pac-12 matchup, Oregon is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 4.5 points. In order to take the favorite, moneyline bettors would currently need to put down $200 to win $100 back on the Ducks (-200). The Trojans are getting +170 moneyline odds. If one team can find paydirt early it’ll generate a worthwhile live betting scenario. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 59 points.
The game’s total has shifted upward after opening at 58. The original line of 4.5 has remained consistent.
Both of these teams have been profitable this year as the Ducks have recorded 2.0 units and the Trojans are ahead 1.4 units.
The Ducks have gone 7-1 straight up (SU), including 5-0 SU against Pac-12 opponents. The Trojans are 5-3 SU overall and 4-1 SU in conference play.
The Ducks are coming off a 37-35 victory over Washington State last week. Justin Herbert completed 21 passes for 222 yards. CJ Verdell (257 rushing yards on 23 attempts, three TDs) and Cyrus Habibi-Likio (48 yards on 12 carries) led the running attack while Juwan Johnson (four receptions, 64 yards) and Verdell (four catches, 56 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
USC enters this one having just earned a 35-31 win over Colorado. Kedon Slovis completed 30-of-44 passes for 406 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Kenan Christon (76 yards on 14 rush attempts) led the running game as Tyler Vaughns (eight receptions, 104 yards, one TD) and Michael Pittman Jr. (seven catches, 156 yards, two TDs) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Oregon’s run the ball on 52.2 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 54.3 percent across possessions in conference play. USC has an overall rush percentage of 48.1 percent, and has kept it on the ground 45.9 percent of the time when facing Pac-12 opponents. The Ducks have produced 190.1 rush yards per game (including 192.6 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have 14 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Trojans are logging 146.3 rush yards per game (130.6 in conference) and have 13 total rushing TDs.
Judging by the results so far, it’s looking like the Ducks might hold an edge when it comes to effectiveness in the ground game. Their running backs has logged 5.1 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 3.2 YPC to opponents. The Trojans have registered 4.5 yards per carry and given up 4.8 YPC to opponents.
The Ducks offensive scheme has averaged 275.9 yards in the air overall (250 per game against conference opposition) and has 23 passing scores so far. The Trojans have produced 296.1 pass yards per game (312 in the Pac-12) and have 18 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Oregon should have the upper hand in both phases. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 101.3 yards and pass for 207 yards per game. The USC defense has allowed 239.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 190.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The Ducks are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 3.51 to opposing QBs, while the Trojans have given up a 6.27 ANY/A.
Offensively, Herbert has amassed 1,824 passing yards this season, and has completed 69 percent of his 224 attempts with 17 scores through the air and only one interception. Herbert has a sparkling 8.59 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.82 over the last two outings.
In the other huddle, Kedon Slovis has connected on 114-of-156 passes for 1,393 yards, 11 TDs and five INTs. Slovis’ ANY/A sits at 8.05 for the year and 8.97 across his last two outings.
These two conference adversaries did not get a chance to face each other last year.
Oregon Ducks at USC Trojans Free Prediction
SU Winner: USC, ATS Winner: USC, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Ducks offense has recorded two pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Trojans have accounted for eight such plays.
- The Oregon defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while USC has given up three such plays.
- The Oregon offense has created 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while USC has created 11 such runs.
- The Ducks defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Trojans have given up 11 such runs.
- The Oregon defense has sacked opposing QBs 23 times this year. USC has recorded 22 sacks.
- As a team, Oregon has averaged 5.9 yards per carry across its last three outings and 5.4 over its last two.
- USC has averaged 5.0 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.0 over its last two.
