USC vs. UNLV Spread Prediction
The USC Trojans will begin life without Sam Darnold on Saturday when they host non-conference foe UNLV at 4:00 p.m. ET. Will the Trojans light the Rebels up or will UNLV at least cover the massive spread as a road underdog?
Game Snapshot
189 UNLV Rebels vs. 190 USC Trojans
4:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 1, 2018
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Trojans are 25.5-point favorites to beat the Rebels. The total, meanwhile, sits at 63.5 points. As of this writing, 68% of the public betting tickets wagered on this matchup are on the Trojans.
UNLV Rebels
UNLV received a verbal commitment from three-star 2019 QB Travis Mumphrey, who had previously been committed to New Mexico. Mumphrey had offers from several Power Five schools, including Arizona, Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Indiana. He instead commits to the Rebels, and 6-foot, 186-pound signal-caller just might be the quarterback of the future for UNLV. He ranks 32nd among dual-style quarterbacks in 247 Sports composite rankings, and the Louisiana native ranks 62nd among prospects in the strong class in the state.
USC Trojans
USC freshman RB Markese Stepp has been ruled out against UNLV on Saturday. Stepp (6’0/230) has cleared the concussion protocol, but he will still miss Saturday’s game. The four-star freshman will be a fourth option at RB when he returns with Stephen Carr, Aca’Cedric Ware, and Vavae Malepeai soaking up most of the work.
Betting Trends
UNLV
UNLV has covered the spread in six of its last seven road games and is 7-3 at the betting window in its last 10 games played in September.
USC
USC is 0-5 against the spread in its last five non-conference games and has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six home games.
Prediction
Tony Sanchez has done a nice job over the past few years at UNLV, as the Rebels have improved by one win each season under the fourth-year head coach. Thanks to Lexington Thomas and Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year Armani Rogers, the Rebels have more than enough weapons to hang within four touchdowns today. Remember a year ago when Western Michigan hung with USC until the fourth quarter? I see something similar happening today.
College Football Week 1 Prediction: UNLV Rebels +25.5