The USC Trojans and head coach Lincoln Riley have lost plenty of credibility in their two years together. Under Riley, USC was expected to take off as a national power immediately. Instead, they have become derided as soft and entitled. Riley was touted as the most brilliant offensive mind in college football. However, Riley’s defenses have almost always been an embarrassing College Football odds liability. That was certainly the case in 2023, wasting the talents of 2022 Heisman Trophy-winning QB Caleb Williams. USC has a difficult season opener in Las Vegas against the LSU Tigers.
USC Trojans vs. LSU Tigers NCAAF Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Sunday, September 1, 2024, 7:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV |
| TV Coverage: | ABC |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSU | -4½ -110 | 64½ -110 | -195 |  |
| USC | +4½ -110 | 64½ -110 | +165 | |
| ||||
For this stand-alone Sunday night game, there will be massive betting on the college football TV audience, with large gambling action. Additionally, these are new brand power teams.
USC Trojans Team Overview
There’s enough talent and coaching acumen for USC to be a fringe College Football Playoff contender in an expanded 12-team field. Still, the general unknown at quarterback combined with a transition to the Big Ten could make for an uneven 2024 campaign. Also, the Trojans need to make big-time online wagering progress on defense. USC must solidify the offensive line to challenge Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, and Penn State atop the conference.
Fielding a productive offense has never been a problem for Lincoln Riley. Correlate that the Air Raid savant has produced a Top 8 scoring offense in all seven of his seasons as a head coach. He has the rare distinction of being the only head coach to tutor three Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks. Accordingly, the most recent being No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
Still, losing a dazzling dual-threat signal-caller like Williams, combined with the move to the Big Ten, has introduced an element of skepticism. First, the Trojans will be transitioning into a more defensive-minded league. Second, they’ll also be relying on a host of new offensive starters across the board who are either underclassmen or inexperienced (or both).
The USC defense is undergoing a radical makeover. Cause of the arrival of a new coordinator D’Anton Lynn. Lynn arrived from UCLA after taking the Bruins from 87th in total defense to 11th in just one year.
LSU Tigers Team Overview
LSU has won 10 games in back-to-back seasons under coach Brian Kelly. But the program enters a crucial ’24 campaign after a staff reset. The Tigers lost offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock to Notre Dame, prompting Kelly to promote Joe Sloan to play-caller. While on the defensive side, change was needed after this unit struggled mightily in ’23. Kelly hit a home run with the changes, though, landing Blake Baker from Missouri to call plays and former Texas assistant Bo Davis to coach the defensive line.
Replicating last year’s offensive production (No. 1 nationally in scoring offense) won’t be easy. Consider that quarterback Jayden Daniels and receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas are off to the NFL. However, Sloan’s cupboard is far from bare. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is a rising star poised for a breakout year. Kyren Lacy, CJ Daniels, Zavion Thomas, Chris Hilton, and Aaron Anderson provide a strong foundation at receiver.
USC vs. LSU SBG Free Picks
In this situation, LSU is the tougher and more physical team that offers more College Football odds value.
USC vs. LSU SBG Best Bet: LSU Tigers.