USC Trojans vs
Minnesota Golden GophersPredictions & Preview

USC Trojans Look to Extend Dominance Over Minnesota Golden Gophers in Big Ten Showdown

This weekend, the 11th-ranked USC Trojans (3-1, 1-1 B1G) will face off against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-3, 0-2 B1G) in a highly anticipated Big Ten matchup. The two teams last met in 2011, with USC coming out on top with a 19-17 victory. USC holds a 6-1-1 record against Minnesota in their head-to-head history. The game is set for Saturday at 7:30 ET at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. USC opens as the favorite with a -8.5 point spread that has not moved.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Trojans -310 | Golden Gophers +250
• Spread: Trojans -8.5 (-110) | Golden Gophers +8.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 50.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that USC will win straight-up is 76%.

USC vs Minnesota Stats

USC Trojans

Lincoln Riley is in his third season as head coach of USC, with a 22-19 record. The Trojans have faced tough competition, including a win against LSU and a loss to Michigan. USC recently bounced back with a win over Wisconsin. The team is priced at +1600 to win the Big Ten title game and is +180 to make the College Football Playoff. Quarterback Miller Moss has been solid, with 1,198 passing yards and eight touchdowns. Ja'Kobi Lane is a top target with 19 catches for 221 yards and four touchdowns. Woody Marks leads the rushing attack with 334 yards and three touchdowns. USC's defense, led by new coordinator D'Anton Lynn, is allowing only 17.0 points per game. With a power ranking of 26, the Trojans are 46 in offense, 29 in defense, and have a 3-1 record this season.

Minnesota Golden Gophers Analysis

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are currently experiencing a challenging season with a 2-3 record, having secured wins against Rhode Island and Nevada but suffering losses against tougher competition like North Carolina, Iowa, and Michigan. Upcoming matchups against ranked teams such as USC, Illinois, and Penn State will present further challenges. Quarterback Max Brosmer has shown promise with over 1,000 passing yards and six touchdowns, while receiver Daniel Jackson and running back Darius Taylor have also made significant contributions offensively. Defensively, the Gophers have held their own, ranking 27th in points allowed and ninth in yardage against FBS schools. In terms of power rankings, the team is currently ranked at 94 with an offense ranking of 87. USC has had a recent history of success against Minnesota.

USC Favored to Dominate Minnesota in Saturday Night Road Game

USC is favored in this road game on Saturday night based on their strong performance last weekend against Wisconsin. Their high-powered offense is expected to be the deciding factor against Minnesota. Although Minnesota's quarterback, Max Brosmer, has experience as a fifth-year senior, his TD/INT ratio is not particularly impressive. UNH, where Brosmer previously played, is not known for playing teams like USC. USC's impressive offense under Coach Lincoln Riley is likely to take advantage of any turnovers by Minnesota and turn them into points. I predict USC will win by at least 10 points and may even dominate the game. Therefore, I am confident in my decision to support USC and take them to cover the spread in this game.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]