USC Trojans vs. Arizona Wildcats Betting Preview
Where: Arizona Stadium — Tucson, Arizona
When: Saturday, October 15, 2016, 3:30 PM ET
Line: USC Trojans (-8) vs. Arizona Wildcats (+8); total: 64.0 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Writer’s Pick: USC Trojans (-8)
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Betting on the USC Trojans (-8)
Here comes USC! Clay Helton and his boys are all smiles right now, as they’ve won back-to-back games versus Arizona State and then-No. 21 Colorado. The Trojans looked sharper than ever in both wins, averaging more than 500 yards of total offense and limiting their opponents to just 38 points combined.
This recent success has Sam Darnold’s name written all over it. The redshirt freshman quarterback is finally producing positive results for USC, throwing for more than 300 yards along with three touchdowns each in the previous two weeks. Darnold’s been also forming a solid rapport with JuJu Smith-Schuster, who hauled in five catches for 113 yards in the game against the Buffaloes.
You can bet that Darnold and Smith-Schuster will look to keep it going on Saturday’s road game with Arizona. The Wildcats are giving up almost 300 yards passing this season, so there’s bound to be a handful of opportunities for the two to connect.
The Trojans can also cause some trouble on the ground. They have a pair of hard-working backs in Justin Davis and Ronald Jones, both of whom finished with at least 10 carries for 139 rushing yards combined last week.
USC is 30-8 all-time against the Wildcats. The last three meetings have also gone in favor of the Trojans.
Betting on the Arizona Wildcats (+8)
A trip back to Tucson is exactly what the Arizona Wildcats need. They’ve lost their last three games, a rough stretch where the team is allowing nearly 40 points per game, and are still missing their top rushers in Nick Wilson and J.J. Taylor.
The status of both backs for this weekend’s game against the visiting Trojans remains questionable. Making matters worse is that the availability of their leading runner and quarterback, Brandon Dawkins, is unclear. Dawkins, right now, has yet to be cleared from concussion protocol.
If Dawkins doesn’t suit up, expect freshman Khalil Tate to make his first career start. Tate took some snaps behind center in last week’s loss to Utah, during which he passed for 105 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Unlike Dawkins though, it’s hard to see him pose as a threat on the ground.
With that considered, the passing game will heavily dictate Arizona’s fate against USC. Look for Tate to consistently search for the Wildcats’ leading receivers in Shun Brown and Trey Griffey, who have both garnered at least 306 or more receiving yards each this season. The latter, by the way, is coming off a big effort (109 yards on four receptions) versus Utah.
Arizona is 6-4 SU and 4-6 ATS in its past 10 home games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
USC (-8) wins and covers against a shorthanded Arizona club.
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