Of great concern for USC is the general uncertainty at quarterback. Additionally, there is the transition to the Big Ten, which could make for an uneven 2025 campaign. Also, the Trojans must make significant progress on defense and solidify their offensive line to challenge Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, and Penn State for the top spot in the conference. Since going 11-3 in his USC debut in 2022, Lincoln Riley is only 15-11 over the last two years. The Trojans needed a College Football lines victory over rival UCLA just to ensure bowl eligibility.
Missouri State Bears at USC Trojans NCAAF Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Saturday, August 30, 2025, 7:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA |
| TV Coverage: | BTN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri St | +35 -110 | 59½ -110 | – |  |
| USC | -35 -110 | 59½ -110 | – | |
| ||||
Missouri State Bears Team Overview
At the beginning, Missouri State is embarking on a new offshore betting future, making the move this year from the FCS to the FBS. The Bears will be competing in Conference USA. Delaware is another team moving from the FCS to join Conference USA this year.
Last season, Missouri State went 8-4. However, the Bears were ineligible for the FCS playoffs due to their transition to the FBS level.
Consider the sad news that Missouri State enters this season with heavy hearts after the death of safety Todric McGee on April 19. McGee was the Bears’ starting safety in 2023 and 2024, earning all-conference honors in 2023. Previously, Missouri State played in arguably the toughest FCS conference – the Missouri Valley. That conference includes North Dakota State and South Dakota State, which have combined to win the last four FCS national titles with two apiece.
Still, this will be a step up in competition for Missouri State. Last year, the only FBS school that Missouri State played was Ball State, which earned a 42-34 win over the Bears. In head coach Ryan Beard’s first two seasons, Missouri State went 12-11.
USC Trojans Team Overview
To many gamblers and observers, the USC Trojans are one of college football’s great underachievers. Certainly, there’s enough College Football odds talent and coaching acumen for the USC Trojans to be a fringe College Football Playoff contender in an expanded 12-team field.
Of course, Lincoln Riley has not met expectations in his first three years as the head coach of the USC Trojans. Riley cut and ran from the Oklahoma Sooners in the dead of night after the 2021 season to run off to La-La Land. Riley was celebrated as the perfect fit for a school that had plenty of skills. But USC should have studied Riley’s record at Oklahoma more closely.
Despite their problems, Riley’s team wasn’t that far off from something better. Of USC’s six losses, including games to Michigan, Penn State, and Washington, five came by seven points or less.
The pieces are in place for Riley’s team to return to the top 25 this fall. Quarterback Jayden Maiava is settled into the No. 1 role after taking over the job late in the ‘24 campaign.
Specifically, the receiving tandem of Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane will make Maiava’s job easier. At the same time, junior college transfer Waymond Jordan, Bryan Jackson, and portal addition Eli Sanders (New Mexico) provide plenty of pop on the ground. For this unit to take off, better play is needed up front. Left tackle Elijah Paige is a rising star, while transfers J’Onre Reed and DJ Wingfield will help to solidify the interior.
Missouri State at USC SBG Free Picks
In this situation, Missouri State is outclassed as a new FBS program.
Missouri State at USC SBG Best Bet: USC Trojans.