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No. 7 USC vs. No. 20 Utah Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 7

By Josh Yourish

USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13)
USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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The Pac 12 finally looks like it has some real contenders at the top. Utah looked like it would be one of them in the preseason, but a loss to UCLA last week dashed its playoff hopes. Now, the Utes just want to play spoiler for USC.

Week 7 could be a springboard for Lincoln Riley to get back into the playoff or the dream of a one-year rebuild could die in Utah. 

USC vs. Utah Odds, Spread and Total

Utah and USC Betting Trends

  • USC is 4-2 ATS
  • Utah is 4-2 ATS
  • USC’s games are 3-3 to the Over
  • Utah’s games are 4-2 to the Over

USC vs. Utah Prediction and Pick

I’ll just say it right out front, I love Utah in this game. At the beginning of the year I picked Florida to upset Utah using the theory that whenever the Pac 12 has a chance to eliminate itself from playoff contention, it will. Now, the roles are reversed and Utah has a chance to take out USC. 

The books know that USC is the No. 7 team in the country and that everybody will love them with Utah coming off a loss to UCLA, so they’ve laid the trap. Utah as a 3.5 point favorite is basically Vegas begging you to take USC and the points.

We aren’t going to fall for it though. 

This Utah defense is not the same as they were a year ago, but it is still good enough. The Utes are 22nd in total defense, 19th in passing defense allowing just 179.3 yards per game, but the problem is they are 58th in rush defense.

This would be a big problem if USC was truly the dynamic offense that they profile as. Even under Lincoln Riley with Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison, they are only 25th in total offense. In their last two games, Williams has failed to throw for more than 200 yards. 

I think Utah can slow down Williams and the rest of the Trojan offense, but even if it turns into a shootout, Cameron Rising is good enough to keep pace. Utah’s offense is 30th in the country, only five spots behind USC. Most of all, I think Utah will be the more physical team and will bully Lincoln Riley’s team all game. 

Pick: Utah -3.5 (+100)

Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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