Minnesota vs. USC Odds
LOS ANGELES (The Spread) – No. 25 USC hopes to starts its 2011 College Football Season on a positive note Saturday when it hosts Minnesota at 3:30PM ET.
View Current College Football Odds
USC was 8-5 last season under first-year coach Lane Kiffin. The Trojans were also 5-8 against the spread as they dealt with the first of a two-year postseason ban and scholarship limitations. Minnesota was 3-9 last season and 7-5 against the spread. The Gophers have since hired Jerry Kill as their new coach.
Trends show that USC is 10-1 against the spread in its last 11 games against the Big Ten while Minnesota is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 against the Pac-12. Minnesota has hit the under in its last 5 games on grass while USC has went under in 7 of its last 10 against Big Ten opponents.
Oddsmakers have made USC a 24-point favorite at home in the season opener over Minnesota while the over/under point total has been set at 51.5 points. (View Matchup)
Opening odds had USC as a 16.5-point favorite and the spread has since climbed all the way to 24 points. The over/under total opened at 52 and has since dropped back to 51.5.
USC has 13 starters back this season and the Trojans are excited about quarterback Matt Barkley, who is in his junior season. He threw for 2,791 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. The Trojans did average 189 rushing yards per game last season, but Marc Tyler, the leading rusher of 2010, is suspended for this game. Defensively, USC did allowed 26.7 points and 400 yards per game, including 260 passing yards per contest.
Minnesota brings back 15 starters from the 2010 season. The Gophers were a mess on defense, allowing 33 points and 392 yards per game, including 191 rushing yards per game. Still, the offense averaged 23.2 points per game and leading rusher, DeLeon Eskridge is back after rushing for 698 yards and seven touchdowns in 2010.
In terms of Injuries, USC receiver Robert Woods is listed as questionable for the game with an elbow injury while Tyler is suspended. Minnesota receiver A.J. Barker is questionable with a hamstring injury and defensive back Derrick Wells is questionable with a rib injury.
Over 5,200 Public Bets have been placed on this game and USC is getting 59% of the wagers with odds of -24 against Minnesota.
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