Stanford vs. USC Prediction, Pick, Odds: Caleb Williams, Trojans Look to Win Another Shootout

Stanford vs. USC Prediction, Pick, Odds: Caleb Williams, Trojans Look to Win Another Shootout

After watching Stanford throttle Hawaii on the road in Week 1 under first-year head coach Troy Taylor, there is growing excitement about the Cardinal and their outlook in 2023. Unfortunately, they are running into a buzzsaw against USC, with Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Lincoln Riley scheming up high-octane offense.

Ashton Daniels, Stanford's sophomore quarterback, looked poised in the pocket against the Rainbow Warriors, completing 69 percent of pass attempts for 248 passing yards and two touchdowns, along with 11-42 on the ground. Running back Casey Filkins averaged 11.2 YPC, which could translate against a mediocre USC defense on Saturday night at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.

Currently, oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook have the Trojans as a -10000 favorite on the moneyline, while giving Stanford +30.5 as underdogs against the spread. The total points line is set to 70.5, which could wind up hitting, although it's a lot of points to expect, especially with the implementation of the running clock this season. Let's dig into these two teams a bit more to uncover the best bet to place during this late-night Pac-12 matchup in Week 2.

Stanford vs. USC Start Time, Where To Watch, Odds

• Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
• Game Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
• Where to Watch: FOX

Click here for the latest USC vs. Stanford odds

Stanford vs. USC Injury Report

STANFORD

Questionable: N/A

Out: N/A

USC

Day-to-Day: DL Tyrone Taleni (Undisclosed), LB Eric Gentry (Undisclosed)

Out: N/A

Stanford vs. USC Prediction

The arrival of Williams and Riley into Southern California has transformed the program into a College Football Playoff contender, despite falling short with a pair of losses to Utah in 2022. Stanford has experienced success against the Trojans in previous head-to-head matchups, winning two of the last five games, including 42-28 in the Coliseum in 2021.

Times were much different for USC under the old regime, but the new regime for Stanford could surprise a lot of people on Saturday night. The Cardinal utilize a West Coast offense that saw tight end Benjamin Yurosek haul in nine receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown, which led all Stanford skilled players in receptions and yards. He's the key to sustaining drives against USC, keeping the best player, Williams, off of the field and establishing methodical drives to grind clock while also getting into the red zone.

All trends point toward the over cashing in this matchup, was the total has gone over in five of Stanford's last six road games against USC, while the Trojans have cashed the over five consecutive times at home entering this matchup. Factor in the two games USC has already played, scoring 56 and 66 points respectively, and there's little chance that the under hits against a young Stanford team that is still in the process of finding its identity.

70.5 points is a huge line, but I don't see any way the under cashes, unless the Cardinal cannot move the football. Thus far, the Trojans rank 72nd in points allowed per game, surrendering an average of 21 against San Jose State and Nevada. Stanford is on par with these offenses, so over 70.5 is the play in this early-season West Coast matchup.

Stanford vs. USC Pick

• Over 70.5 @ -110 (Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds)

College Football Odds

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