USC Trojans vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 10/05/2024

Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, October 5, 2024

Venue:  Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN

Where to Watch:  Big Ten Network

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  USC -9, Minnesota +9; Over/Under:  49 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  USC -8.5, Minnesota +8.5; Over/Under:  49.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  USC -8, Minnesota +8; Over/Under:  49.5 points

USC Trojans:  3-1 (1-1) (10th place, Big Ten)

Minnesota Golden Gophers:  2-3 (0-2) (16th place, Big Ten)

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USC Trojans:  won their last game at home against the Wisconsin Badgers 38-21.

Minnesota Golden Gophers:  lost their last game on the road against the Michigan Wolverines 27-24.

USC is entering this game with a 3-1 record overall and they have a 1-1 record in their conference games too. They are 2-0 in their home games, 0-1 in their road games, and they are also 1-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against Wisconsin 38-21. Miller Moss was the starting QB and he completed 30/45 passes for 308 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Jo'quavious Marks led the team in rushing yards with 63. Ja'Kobi Lane led the receivers with 105 receiving yards on 10 receptions and 2 TDs. Eric Gentry and DeCarlos Nicholson each led the defense in that game with 4 solo tackles and 0 assisted tackles while no one on the defense recorded a sack for them. Mason Cobb came away with the only interception for them in that one.

 

 

 

Minnesota is entering this game with a 2-3 record overall and they have a 0-2 record in their conference games too. They are 2-2 in their home games, 0-1 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They lost their last game against Michigan 27-24. Max Brosmer was the starting QB and he completed 27/40 passes for 258 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Darius Taylor led the team in rushing yards with 36 and 2 TDs. Elijah Spencer led the receivers with 67 receiving yards on 6 receptions. Cody Lindenberg led the defense in that game with 5 solo tackles and 4 assisted tackles while Jah Joyner led the defense in sacks with 1. Ethan Robinson came away with the only interception for them in that one.

The current betting odds have USC listed as a 9 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. USC has looked really good in their games this season with their 3-1 record overall, but they are only 1-1 in their conference games. This is their first season in the Big Ten and they opened their conference schedule with a road loss to Michigan. Now they are coming off their first win in the conference and it was a game they were trailing by a lot early on, but they pulled themselves together in that one and ended up winning the game by 17 points. Their offense has been rolling all season with Miller Moss and even their defense has improved a lot from last year. Meanwhile, Minnesota hasn't looked good in their games this season with their 2-3 record overall and their 0-2 conference record. They are coming off a close conference loss in their last one, losing on the road by 3 points against Michigan, but they also have a Big Ten loss at home by double digits to Iowa. Good defense has been a staple for Minnesota for years, but this season their defense hasn't looked great as they are giving up a lot more points. That won't be helpful against a USC offense that can definitely put up points in their games. Minnesota doesn't have a great offense either so their defense is only going to be able to do so much in this game until the USC offense is too overwhelming for them. USC already has a loss in the Big Ten so they will be looking to stay undefeated from this point on and this is a game they can win by double digits against a much weaker team. The best way to place a bet here is on USC to cover the spread in this game. 

USC Minnesota Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, October 5, 2024 (7:30 pm ET start time) is USC 35 Minnesota 17.

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USC Trojans: 2-6 ATS as a road favorite. 1-5 ATS when playing against a team with a losing record. 2-5 ATS versus good defensive teams - allowing 310 yards/game or less. 23-8 OVER in all lined games. 19-6 OVER as a favorite. 16-5 OVER against conference opponents. 14-5 OVER after scoring 37 points or more last game.

Minnesota Golden Gophers: 11-6 1H ATS in home lined games. 7-3 1H ATS after playing their last game on the road. 7-4 OVER after 1 or more consecutive straight up losses. 5-1 OVER versus good rushing teams - averaging 4.75 rushing yards/carry or more. 5-1 1H OVER versus good rushing teams - averaging 4.75 rushing yards/carry or more.

USC Trojans:  W. Matthews (TE) Questionable - Undisclosed. M. Cobb (LB) Questionable - Undisclosed.

Minnesota Golden Gophers:  D. Kemp (K) Questionable - Undisclosed. T. Randle (DL) Out - Undisclosed. Q. Redding (WR) Out - Undisclosed. J. Hicks (DL) Out - Undisclosed. K. Johnson (RB) Out - Undisclosed. C. Conzemius (WR) Out - Undisclosed. J. Greenhow (DB) Out - Undisclosed. P. Walsh (TE) Out - Leg. J. Williams (OL) Out - Undisclosed. S. Macy (DL) Out - Undisclosed. J. Wright (RB) Out - Undisclosed. S. Seidl (CB) Out - Undisclosed.

“We knew we could compete in this conference, but now you've got to win, and you've got to play well. After the way that last week finished ... and have the first half go the way it did, (but) come back and play that well, it just says a lot about the character of the guys in this room. They're going to battle. They're not going anywhere. We don't panic.” - Lincoln Riley after his team’s win against Wisconsin in their last game. 

“We are way past the point where moral victories matter to this program. Everyone on our sideline thought we were going to win that game.” - P.J. Fleck after his team’s loss against Michigan in their last game. 

WR Hudson, Kyron

WR Lane, Ja'Kobi 

WR Lemon, Makai 

WR Branch, Zachariah 

TE McRee, Lake 

QB Moss, Miller 

RB Marks, Woody

WR Spencer, Elijah 

WR Brockington, Le'Meke 

WR Jackson, Daniel 

TE Geers, Jameson 

QB Brosmer, Max 

RB Taylor, Darius 

Passing: M. Moss (1198)

Rushing: W. Marks (334)

Receiving: J. Lane (221)

Touchdowns: J. Lane (4)

Passing: M. Brosmer (1094)

Rushing: D. Taylor (258)

Receiving: D. Jackson (326)

Touchdowns: D. Taylor (6)

Coaches:

USC Trojans: Lincoln Riley (3rd season)

Minnesota Golden Gophers: P.J. Fleck (8th season)