USC vs UCLA Picks: Bet Trojans ATS in Battle of LA 11/23

The annual battle between Los Angeles-based colleges finds the USC Trojans visiting the UCLA Bruins on Saturday night. For the first time, these two teams will be playing as Big Ten rivals.

The Trojans have won two of their last three, including a home victory over Nebraska last weekend. UCLA had its three-game winning streak snapped with a road loss to Washington last Friday.

The college football odds have USC as the expected winner as it is listed as a five-point favorite. Taking the Bruins for a straight-up win can get you +167 odds while the Trojans are -195 on the moneyline. The over/under for the contest has been set at 51½ points.

USC vs UCLA Game Information

• Game: USC (5-5, 3-5 Big Ten) vs UCLA (4-6, 3-5)
• Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 23, 10:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
• USC vs UCLA Live Stream: NBC

Before placing any wagers on the game, check the college football news for injury updates.

2 Bets You Should Make on USC vs UCLA

1. QB Switch Boosts Chances for Trojans

With the team struggling offensively, USC coach Lincoln Riley decided to make a quarterback switch for last week’s game vs Nebraska, and it paid off. Sophomore Jayden Maiava made his first start against the Cornhuskers and threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in a 28-20 victory.

Monster play from @jayden_maiava ➡️ @Ducerobinson2 to set up the score ✌️ pic.twitter.com/AnkS7tMeEX

— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) November 16, 2024

Maiava finished with 259 yards through the air with one interception, but he showed some poise against the Cornhuskers’ pass rush. The UNLV transfer was able to avoid the mistakes that plagued previous starter Miller Moss, who had three passes picked off against Washington in the Trojans’ last game before the switch.

USC was also able to run the ball effectively behind the play of senior Woody Marks, who went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season with 146 yards against the Cornhuskers. Marks did have his three-game touchdown streak snapped, but he continues to be a reliable option for the Trojans on the ground.

So what can UCLA do to slow down the USC offense? The Bruins have been good against the run, ranking fourth in the Big Ten by giving up just 100.6 yards per game on the ground, according to the USC vs UCLA stats.

It’s the pass defense that must improve this week since UCLA is allowing 245.7 yards per game through the air. We don’t see that happening. The Trojans’ new offense should put up enough points to get the win on enemy territory and cover the point spread.

Make USC one of your college football picks this week.

Bet On USC -5 vs UCLA

Touchdown Profits! Bet $200, Get $450 Bonus on first time deposit.

2. Count on Plenty of Points, Bet the Over

UCLA has itself a pretty solid offense as well with quarterback Ethan Garbers playing very well of late. The senior has 2,173 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season, but has also thrown 11 interceptions.

But over the last four games, Garbers has had just two passes picked off – both against an Iowa team known for its ball-hawking defense. He also has 10 touchdown passes over that span.

He’s going to need to keep it going against USC, however, because his defense hasn’t always been solid this season. This game is going to come down to which team can avoid mistakes and, possibly, who has the ball last.

We like both teams to put points on the board in what should be a pass-heavy shootout. Because of that, the total of 51½ points seems like an easy pick for the over.

Add the over to your college football predictions for this game, and you’ll come away from Saturday night happy..

Bet on USC vs UCLA Over 51½

Questions of the Day

Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.