USC vs. Arizona State Spread Prediction
The USC Trojans blew a 14-point lead last week in a loss to Utah but will try to regroup on Saturday afternoon when they host the Arizona State Sun Devils at 3:30 p.m. ET. Will ASU cover the spread as a road underdog?
Game Snapshot
163 Arizona State Sun Devils at 164 USC Trojans
3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, October 27
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Trojans are 6-point favorites to beat the Sun Devils. The total, meanwhile, sits at 54.5 points. As of this writing, 59% of the public betting tickets wagered on this matchup are on the Trojans.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State senior QB Manny Wilkins completed 26-of-43 passes for 353 yards and an interception while rushing for 41 yards and a score in Thursday’s 20-13 loss to Stanford. Wilkins (6’3/200) did notch his third 300-yard passing game on the campaign, but this was not a particularly sharp performance. He was noticeably irritated with his receivers at times — especially during the second half — and after ASU squandered a potential game-tying drive to end the contest (due mostly to dreadful time management), the senior signal-caller launched the ball skyward in frustration. We love the competitiveness with Manny, always, but he’s had better days. He’ll try for one of those against USC in Week 9.
USC Trojans
USC HC Clay Helton announced Sunday that redshirt freshman QB Jack Sears will prepare as the starter for this week’s game against Arizona State. Sears, the third-stringer, is suddenly thrust into the spotlight with JT Daniels (head) and Matt Fink (ribs) injured. Fink has already been ruled out against ASU, so whether or not Sears gets his first career start will be determined by Daniels’ progress this week off a concussion against Utah. “I’m a big fan of Jack. I always have been,” said Helton. “If [Sears is] given the opportunities, I think he’ll do a great job.” If Daniels indeed can’t go, redshirt sophomore walk-on Holden Thomas would back up Sears against ASU.
Betting Trends
Arizona State
The Sun Devils are 9-4 against the spread in their last 13 conference games.
USC
The Trojans are 5-16-1 against the spread in their last 22 games overall.
Prediction
USC enters play today with injury issues at two quarterback spots. If the Trojans have to roll with the redshirt freshman Sears, they’re going to have problems covering this spread. Actually, I think they’ll have issues anyway. ASU has forced teams to roll the ball with its 3-3-5 defensive alignment and USC has had issues with inconsistency all season offensively. Wilkins needs to shake the final drive in that loss to Stanford (a drive that stalled deep in Cardinal territory when Wilkins failed to make a play) and I think he will. Good value on the Sun Devils here.
College Football Prediction: Arizona State Sun Devils +6