Washington State vs. USC Picks, Predictions College Football Week 6: Trojans Face Test From Cougars
Are the USC Trojans being undervalued or could they suffer their first loss of the year at the hands of Washington State? Check out our Washington State-USC picks.
The Cougars are 4-1, with their only loss coming against Oregon. In that game, the Cougars led by two scores with just 6:42 remaining before the wheels completely fell off.
Meanwhile, the Trojans survived a scare two weeks ago against Oregon State, but they bounced back with an easy victory over Arizona State last weekend. Could the Trojans struggle against a defense allowing just 18.2 points per game?
Here are our top picks for the college football Week 6 game between Washington State and USC (odds via PointsBet and DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Washington State vs. USC Game Info
Date: Saturday,
Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Location: Los Angeles Memorial
Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Weather: 65 degrees, 4% chance of
precipitation, 5-mph winds
Washington State vs. USC Odds
Washington State vs. USC Odds Analysis
There has been lots of line movement in this one. The Trojans opened as 11-point favorites, and the spread has grown to 12.5. However, just 67% of cash backs USC to cover against the Cougars, so this number should drop.
As for the total, the number opened at 59.5, and it has shot up to 65.5 or 66, depending on which sportsbook you are looking at. It has since levelled off at 63.5.
Washington State vs. USC Picks
Washington State vs. USC ATS Pick
Washington State +13 (-107) ★★★
The Trojans have faced one good team this season, and they nearly lost. Oregon State’s strong defense caused serious problems for Caleb Williams, as he completed just 16 of 36 passes and accumulated a QBR of just 53.5.
This game will be played at USC, so the Trojans should be able to come away victorious, but the Cougars’ defense has the skill to emulate what the Beavers did two weeks ago. They have allowed more than 20 points just once all season, and they are a fourth-quarter collapse away from being undefeated and probably ranked in the top 20.
The Cougars have played just one road game this season, but they went to Wisconsin and knocked off the Badgers in that contest. Even if the Badgers are having a down season, winning in Wisconsin is no easy task. If the Trojans aren’t careful, they could lose this one outright.
Washington State vs. USC O/U Pick
Under 66 (-110) ★★★★
It’s pretty remarkable how much this line has moved since opening at 59.5. Nearly a full touchdown swing shows how much bettors respect the Trojans’ offense. And it has been explosive this season.
USC has scored more than 40 points in four of its five games, and it's averaging 480.4 yards per game. However, against the best defense they faced this season, the Trojans scored just 17 points, and they amassed 357 yards.
The Cougars showed against Oregon that they are not afraid to play at a fast pace and try to outscore their opponent. However, they do prefer to play a defensive-minded game. They should be able to keep Williams uncomfortable enough that he struggles to put up his typical numbers.
Washington State vs. USC Prop Pick
USC Under 39.5 (-110) ★★★★
It’s time to hammer home the fact that Washington State’s defense is going to pose serious problems for the USC offense. The Cougars have allowed just one team to score more than 17 points all season. Against Oregon, the Ducks had just 22 points with 6:42 remaining, before they doubled their point total in a late-game explosion.
USC has gone over 40 a lot this season, but they haven’t always been convincing when doing so. Last week against Arizona State, 14 of their points came in the fourth quarter, including one touchdown with just 3:46 remaining and the game well out of reach.
Where to Bet on Washington State-USC Picks
Washington State-USC picks made 10/4/2022 at 5:51 p.m. ET
Related Articles
