ESPN will televise two games on Thursday, September 2nd with the late one having USC favored on the college football betting line at Hawaii. Normally bettors would be all over the Trojans in college football lines but with USC having been hit by NCAA penalties, gamblers are a little wary about backing the Trojans. College football betting line numbers list USC as a 20.5 point favorite at SBGglobal.com. The total on the game is 53. The Trojans are going to score points and Hawaii should get some as well so this total could be a little low.
Trojans: USC has a very good quarterback in Matt Barkley and a solid running back in Allen Bradford. They both could have a big night against a rotten Hawaii defense. USC has really had a very bad off-season with the NCAA handing down severe sanctions that will keep USC out of a bowl game this season. The Trojans will be even worse down the road as they lose a lot of scholarships. Lane Kiffin bolted Tennessee to take this job and he is going to have problems although maybe not right away. USC still has most of their roster intact and the Pac-10 is not a power conference.
The question in this matchup vs. the college football lines is how many points will Hawaii score. USC is going to get their points so if Hawaii is to cover the spread they will have to score. The USC defense is not the strength of the team. They still have a lot of talent but this is not a Trojan defense that is going to dominate. Hawaii should be able to score some points.
Warriors: Hawaii should be better this season as quarterback Bryant Moniz and wide receiver Rodney Bradley both return. The Warriors really need Moniz as they would be in serious trouble without him. Bradley was third in the country in yards per catch last season before getting hurt. The Hawaii defense is never very good but this season they might be slightly better with a lot of starters returning.
Caution: Not many people know what to expect from USC this season and Hawaii is a real unknown. USC should win by laying almost three touchdowns is risky.