Lincoln Riley at USC football buzz is causing mass donations to sportsbooks

Thanks to the Lincoln Riley hype, more bets have come in for USC football winning the College Football Playoff than any other team at a Vegas sportsbook.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, USC football went from frustrating underachiever to College Football Playoff contender.

First, the Trojans traded Clay Helton for Lincoln Riley. Then Riley secured the transfer of star quarterback Caleb Williams. For good measure, he went out and got Biletnikoff Award-winning receiver Jordan Addison from Pitt.

Those headlines have created a ridiculous amount of buzz around USC. It’s to the point where the SuperBook at the Westgate Las Vegas says the Trojans have brought in more bets and money to win the championship than any other team, per ESPN.

Those ill-advised bets amount to donations to the SuperBook.

Lincoln Riley at USC football buzz is causing mass donations to sportsbooks

USC is going to be a lot more fun to watch this year, there’s no doubt about that. Riley was a grand slam hire and his moves in the transfer portal should restore the Trojans to their former glory in due time.

The idea that they’re ready to win a national championship this year though? That’s ludicrous.

Anyone who put a bet on USC to win the national title in 2022 was too hypnotized by names like Riley, Williams and Addison to look more closely at a roster that required a huge overhaul and still needs time to strengthen at key positions.

The Trojans have zero depth on the offensive line. Yes, they return a veteran front, but one or two untimely injuries could thrust walk-ons into starting roles. That’s how thin the situation in the trenches looks.

The defensive line is in similar trouble on the depth front but the entire makeup of the defense is an even bigger concern.

USC’s defense was miserable in 2021. While Alex Grinch has strengthened with additions like Shane Lee from Alabama and Romello Height from Auburn, there is a lot of work to do from top to bottom with this unit. There are no national award winners arriving to flip the switch from “bad” to “elite” overnight.

Riley and Grinch could do wonders rebuilding the offense and defense in record time and the Trojans will still have to deal with growing pains as the head coach and his staff instill a winning culture in a team that has been lacking for years.

USC is on the right path, but betting on a national championship this early is giving money away.

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