Nevada vs Southern California Odds: Trojans Monster Favorites Over Wolfpack

The Nevada Wolfpack are trading a loss for a big payday when they visit the Southern California Trojans in Los Angeles on Saturday. The Wolfpack is getting $1.6 million for playing USC, with its No. 6 NCAA football ranking, as it’s the 100th anniversary of Nevada’s 1923 game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. With USC’s first opponent, Pomona, no longer fielding a football team, Nevada was the next best thing. The Nevada vs Southern California odds have the Trojans -38 and the total is 67.

Nevada Should Be Better in 2023

The Wolfpack should be a better team this season than they were a year ago. But considering they went 2-10 last year, that’s setting the bar pretty low. Nevada was 0-8 in conference games, defeating New Mexico State and Texas State before ending the season on a 10-game losing skid. Despite all of last year’s troubles, Nevada never lost by more than 38 points.

Colorado transfer Brendon Lewis will get the start at quarterback and Oregon transfer Sean Dollars should see plenty of time at running back. Fellow running back Ashton Hayes left California to return to his birthplace.

Nevada returns several of its top wide receivers, including Dalevon Campbell. Tight end Keleki Latu transferred from California and could be a good one.

The Wolfpack have to replace three offensive linemen and that was a weak spot last year. Jason Rodriguez comes over from USC to help out. Nevada will need a few more players to step up and contribute.

Defensively, the Wolfpack returned seven starters. That’s not necessarily a great thing as the defense was pretty bad a year ago. But some help is on the way through the transfer portal, along with a few of the better-returning players. Nevada has to play better in the secondary and they should this season.

Williams Looks For Back-to-Back Heisman Trophies

USC’s Caleb Williams threw for 278 yards and four touchdowns in the team’s 56-28 win over San Jose State. And people are knocking Southern Cal. Sure, it didn’t get the job done against the college football spreads, but it was a solid tune-up victory.

The Trojans rushed for 160 yards, with Austin Jones running for 54 yards and two touchdowns. Six different players had at least two receptions for the Trojans and four different players scored touchdowns.

Defensively, USC saw a few things it needs to work on. That’s what these early-season games are for. The Trojans did some good things and made some plays they’d like to have back. That’s football.

USC 66, Nevada 0 (1929)

To say these two teams haven’t met in quite a while would be an understatement. The teams last met in 1929 and the NCAAF scores showed the Trojans ran away with a 66-0 victory. Nevada was shut out five times in eight games that season, finishing 2-5-1. Southern Cal finished the year with a 10-2 record after winning the Rose Bowl.

What to Expect

If you’re Nevada, you’re going to try and run the ball. San Jose State had some success against the Trojans and the Wolfpack have a couple of good backs. Lewis will throw the ball some. After playing at Colorado, he shouldn’t be intimidated by facing Southern Cal.

The Trojans are going to let Williams do his thing. In a perfect world, USC would get Williams out of the game in the third quarter and let the backups play. The Trojans could look to work on their ground game a little bit after a fair performance against the Spartans.

Who to Bet On?

The Nevada vs Southern California odds of USC -38 are pretty lofty. At some point, you have to figure the Trojans are favored by too many points. And this looks like one of those weeks. The Wolfpack aren’t anything special. But 38 points is a lot to be giving a team with a few decent athletes.

Nevada hasn’t been such a large underdog at any time during the last 23 years. Dating back to 2000, Nevada is 3-2 ATS when getting 28 or more points. They’ve been a 30-point or more underdog three times, going 2-1 against the number.

The Nevada vs Southern California odds of 67 points on the total might be a bit low if Nevada has some success on offense. The Trojans will keep most of its first team in the game as long as the Wolfpack are within striking distance.

Williams will get his yards and get some touchdown passes. But the Wolfpack should get the cover in this game.

For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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