Arizona State vs. USC Predictions & Betting Odds (10/1/22)

The 1-3 Arizona State Sun Devils travel to face off against the 4-0 No. 6 USC Trojans this week in a PAC-12 showdown. Barely escaping out of Corvallis last week with a win over Oregon State, the Trojans should be revamped and ready to face off against a struggling Sun Devils team that recently fired its head coach Herm Edwards. 

Arizona State vs USC Odds

The Trojans are -25.5 point favorites over the Sun Devils. The over/under is set at 61. 

Arizona State vs USC Prediction

The Trojans’ offense looked – for the first time this season – stagnant against a feisty Oregon St. defense last week. Trailing 7-3 at halftime, the Trojans scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and were lucky to escape Corvallis with a win. Despite being 25-point favorites this week, the Trojans’ offense must come out hot against a struggling Arizona St. defense in order to justify the team’s number six ranking. 

Firing head coach Herm Edwards, the scandal-stricken Arizona St. football program has turned to interim head coach Shaun Aguano in the meantime. The former head coach at Chandler high school, the best high school football program in the state, Aguano has the tough task of facing college football veteran Lincoln Riley this week. While the Sun Devils have a win against the Northern Arizona Lumberjack, they have notable, double-digit losses against Utah, Eastern Michigan, and Oklahoma State. With chaos seemingly defining the Sun Devils programs at the moment, don’t expect them to fare very well against a well-organized and disciplined USC team. 

This game is a matter of how much the USC offense can rebound after a dismal showing last week. The big question of this game is can the Trojans cover a -25 point spread. Given that Lincoln Riley will be motivated to get his team back on the right track, expect Caleb Williams and co. to start where they left off after the Fresno State game. If USC can slug it out against a far-more talented Beavers’ team, expect the defense to hold the Sun Devil offense while the Trojans’ offense ramps back up after a tough week. 

Prediction: USC 48 | Arizona St. 17

Betting Trends

-The Trojans are 3-1 ATS under head coach Lincoln Riley

-The Trojans are 1-0 ATS when facing a spread of -25.5 or higher

Key Matchup

USC Wide Outs versus Arizona State Secondary

This is a great opportunity for the Trojans’ offense to get back on track. While Caleb Williams has been lights out this year, USC’s receiving core is potentially the best in the country. Wideout Jordan Addison is having another stellar year after winning the Biletnikoff last season, and the rest of the wide receivers group in Mario Williams, Brenden Rice, and Tahj Washington is in stellar form. Trojans running back Travis Dye also adds another offensive element that should be able to tear this Arizona St. defense apart this week.