Colorado vs USC Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
Pac-12 After Dark
The No. 8 USC Trojans will continue their pursuit of a Pac-12 championship on Friday night against the Colorado Buffaloes. In the tight conference title race, USC needs a win to continue to have hope to appear in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
The Trojans’ level of play has recently declined, going 0-2 ATS in the last two games. Colorado (1-8, 1-5) is the worst team in the Pac-12, giving USC an opportunity to clean up its mistakes.
Let’s check the latest college football odds, stats, injury reports and college football lines for Colorado vs USC. We’ve plenty of NCAA football odds for you to consider.
Colorado’s Coaching Change Not Enough
The Buffaloes have hit rock bottom. After a 0-5 start, Colorado fired coach Karl Dorrell. With interim coach Mike Sanford, the Buffaloes grabbed their only win of the season on October 15 against California (20-13) and are 2-2 ATS. Colorado was 0-5 ATS with Dorrell at the helm.
Against California, the defense had its best game, as the front seven played well. Since then, Colorado’s defense has plummeted, allowing 44.3 points over the last three games.
Turnovers have also been a major problem. In the last four games, Colorado has 11 turnovers, including three in the 49-10 loss to No. 6 Oregon last week. Quarterback J.T. Shrout has struggled with a 44.5% completion percentage and five interceptions in the last three games. To make matters worse, up-and-coming running back Deion Smith is questionable with an undisclosed injury.
Ultimately, Colorado has not been able to hang with good teams. The Buffaloes are 0-6 ATS against teams with a winning record and have lost by an average of 33 points.
Defense Will Decide USC’s Season
After starting the season 5-2 ATS, USC has not covered in the last two games. The offense, which ranks fifth in yards per game, has continued its high production level. However, the defense is surrendering 38.3 points per game in the last three games, compared to the season average of 25.2 points allowed per game (49th). With the Trojans’ defensive struggles, the over has become a reliable bet, going 3-0 during the stretch.
To win the Pac-12 and potentially appear in the College Football Playoff, the defense must vastly improve, especially against the pass (105th in allowed passing yards per game). USC is the second choice to win the Pac-12 with +250 odds.
Make sure to check the injury report before placing any bets. USC has several key players that will be game-time decisions. The Trojans’ second-leading tackler, linebacker Eric Gentry, is dealing with an ankle injury. On offense, wide receiver Mario Williams (493 receiving yards) and one of college football’s best guards, Andrew Vorhees, are questionable. Top wide receiver Jordan Addison (leg) and linebacker Ralen Goforth (wrist) are expected to return.
JORDAN ADDISON GOES THE DISTANCE 😱 pic.twitter.com/sh62Bcomdl
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 11, 2022
Colorado vs USC Game Injuries
Colorado vs USC Head-to-Head
Colorado has never defeated USC with an 0-15 record. The Buffaloes’ last trip to Los Angeles ended in a 31-20 loss.
Colorado vs USC Game Information
- Game: Colorado vs USC
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
- Day/Time: Friday, November 11th, 9:30 p.m. ET
- Colorado vs USC Live Stream: ESPN
Colorado vs USC Betting Lines
Colorado vs USC Picks & Prediction
Colorado’s defense is in store for another bad game. The Buffaloes rank 116th in allowed yards per pass. Meanwhile, USC’s Caleb Williams is one of the country’s best quarterbacks. Plus, wide receiver Addison is returning and averages 15 yards per catch. The over feels inevitable in this one, with USC going over in four of the last five and Colorado hitting over in six of the last eight.
One intriguing prop is for USC to score first with -270 odds. The Trojans have scored a touchdown in every first quarter over the last four games and scored first in three of them.
With Colorado losing nine straight on the road and USC 5-0 at home this season, the Trojans will surely win. For the spread, the Buffaloes are 2-7 ATS. As mentioned, USC’s passing attack will light it up, leading to a win and cover.
