Fansided

Utah vs USC preview, predictions, betting odds, live stream info

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 17, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes wide receiver Britain Covey (18) runs after a catch as Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Viliami Moeakiola (28) defends during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah won 34-18. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes wide receiver Britain Covey (18) runs after a catch as Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Viliami Moeakiola (28) defends during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah won 34-18. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

No. 3 Utah Utes vs. USC Trojans

After starting the year as a top-10 team and a possible College Football Playoff favorite, the USC Trojans have plummeted out of the rankings after a tumultuous start to the season, to say the least. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has been fired after some reports popped up that he had a drinking problem that spilled over into the locker room. This team is resilient, though.

Utah has gone from unmentioned in the playoff conversation at the beginning of the year to a prominent figure when it comes to putting together a potential top-four. Once considered a middle-of-the-pack Pac-12 team, Utah has risen from the unranked and to the top-five, looking like a serious threat to take home the national crown. Are they just a flash in the pan, though?

Details for Saturday’s game are below: 

Date: Saturday, Oct. 24
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
TV Info: FOX
Live Stream: WatchESPN app
Radio: For Utah radio affiliates, click here. For USC radio affiliates, click here.
Ticket information: For USC ticket info, click here. For Utah ticket info, click here.

Keys to Victory

Utah Utes

Devontae Booker. This one is easy for Utah. As long as the Utes can get Booker involved early and often in the ground game, they will have a great chance to win. USC allows opponents to record, on average, about 170 yards per game on the ground — not a good number. Booker is one of the most improved backs in the conference, rushing for 783 yards and eight touchdowns this year.

Another key for Utah will be slowing down Cody Kessler’s aerial attack, which might not be the easiest thing to do, especially on the road in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. If they can somehow hold Kessler to under 250 passing yards and not let JuJu Smith-Schuster break out, they’ll be in great shape.

USC Trojans

Cody Kessler really needs to get the pass game going. He has thrown four interceptions in the last two games, both losses, and it’s clear that the Trojans feed off his success; USC goes as Kessler goes. For the Trojans to pull the upset in this one, Kessler is going to need to pass for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns.

The run defense hasn’t been all that great this season, but that will need to change this week as the Utes feature one of the top backs in the conference. Stopping Booker hasn’t been done yet by Pac-12 opponents, but we will see if USC is up to the test.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: USC -3.5
Moneyline: Utah +150, USC -170
O/U: 61.5

Prediction

While my gut is telling me to pick USC, the college football fan inside me is trying to pick against the underdog and make a smart choice. Therefore, it’s going to be the Utes who will hand the Trojans a third straight loss and send USC down a continuing spiral out of control. Cody Kessler will have a solid game through the air, but it won’t be enough in the end as he throws a late pick to seal the Utes’ win.

Final Score: Utah 31, USC 27

Home/College Football