Pac-12 CFB: USC Trojans vs (6) Oregon Ducks
USC Failed to Cover in Seven Straight, Oregon 8-1 ATS in 2023
The USC Trojans (7-3 / 5-2) can forget about winning a Pac-12 title after losing to the Washington Huskies last week, 52-42, as a 2.5-point dog. Oregon’s only blemish this season was to Washington, making a regular season conference championship unlikely, but a Pac-12 Title game in Vegas is within reach. First, they must take out the Trojans who may be looking at a 5-loss season at year’s end.
A complete disappointment to SC fans who thought this was a team that could compete for a national championship. Oddsmakers have made Oregon a 15-point favorite with a total of 75.5. Kick-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT and can be seen on FOX. We start our USC vs Oregon CFB Odds preview with a peek at USC from a betting perspective.
Reason To Cry
We knew there was going to be an issue on defense for the Trojans, and that has certainly come to fruition. In conference play, the USC offense has done everything expected of them, but when your team puts up 42 against the 5th-ranked team in the country, you expect to win. Instead, the SC defense let down bettors again after their sixth straight week allowing 30 or more points and 41 or more points in five of their last six.
We need one of those fancy betting odds calculators to understand how a program like USC has failed to attract defensive talent. Do that enough times and Caleb Williams is going to get emotional. The Trojans are second in the nation on offense with 47.4 points per game, but that hasn’t been good enough for fans or bettors after failing to cover for the eighth time in 10 games.
Over the last four seasons, the Trojans have finished a season in the black just once (2022) when they were 8-5 ATS. Combined, USC is just 17-24 ATS since 2020 and 30-46 ATS (-18.04 units) since 2017. For the once proud program, the first step in putting the spotlight back on the Trojans is to start covering some games. Until then, USC can’t be trusted from week to week. We continue our USC vs Oregon CFB Odds preview by turning our attention to the powerful Ducks.
Oregon Eyeing Another Shot At Huskies
The path to Las Vegas is clear, beat USC, Arizona State, and #12 Oregon State, and Oregon will be headed to the entertainment capital of the world for a likely rematch with Washington. There is still a lot of football to be played and none of those opponents will lay down because the Ducks always seemed destined to play in the title game.
Oregon is ranked sixth by the College Football Playoff committee. Two of the conference’s top quarterbacks will be on display, Williams for the Trojans, and Box Nix for Oregon. They’re coming off a 63-19 blowout against Cal and have won their last three games by at least 14 points. The Ducks are hoping to improve on their 6-1-1 ATS record this season, the second straight season where they have crushed bookmakers, covering 13 of their last 18 with the push.
At home, Oregon has covered 7 of their last 9 games. In their last 12 meetings, the Ducks have covered seven times against USC, including 3 of 5 at home. We conclude our USC vs Oregon CFB Odds preview with our official selections.
Ducks Waddle Through Trojans
We think Oregon will make USC a one-dimensional team by halftime after flexing their feathers against the run. The problem on defense for the Trojans starts up front where there is very little pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Against Oregon, it’s picking your poison because you can’t let Nix sit in the pocket and pick you apart, but you also can’t blitz with regularity and leave receivers in single coverage. We’re laying the points and taking the Ducks easily. Whether you bet the side or like over under betting more, both college football bet lines indicate we’ll have a wild ride no matter what.
As the clock ticks down to kickoff, excitement builds for USC vs Oregon, promising an unforgettable clash on the gridiron.
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