USC vs. Fresno State: TV info, betting odds, and expert predictions
USC will look to get to 3-0 on Saturday when it hosts Fresno State.
The Trojans are as hot a team as their is in the country right now, with a 66-14 win over Rice in the season-opener and a 41-28 win over Stanford last Saturday. Quarterback Caleb Williams has played like every bit the Heisman Trophy contender he was billed as in the preseason, Jordan Addison made sure the Stanford secondary sees him in its nightmares for the next few weeks, and the rest of the offense has meshed well enough to light up the scoreboard.
”They are deserving of their ranking,” Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford said of the seventh-ranked Trojans. “They are a very good football team, very well-coached, very explosive. They can turn you over. Excellent tacklers. Their ranking is well deserved.”
Fresno State (1-1) hopes to pose a test. The Bulldogs will be led into the game by a star quarterback of their own in Jake Haener. USC coach Lincoln Riley says the Bulldogs have few weaknesses. He’ll try and exploit whatever he can find.
Here are all the details you need to know for the game.
TV and Kickoff Time
Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m. PT
TV Network: FOX; fans can also watch the game live on FOXSports.com with a cable or satellite provider login
Betting odds
Line: USC -10.5
Total: 72.0
Money line: USC -455, Fresno State +330
Expert predictions
ESPN’s FPI gives USC a 90% chance of beating Fresno State.
Bill Connelly’s SP+ is predicting a 33-26 win for USC.
Athlon Sports’ Kane Webb has the Trojans winning 46-38:
The Trojans should be able to put this game away with a key stop here and there. It wouldn’t surprise me if this game played out like the 2005 contest (USC won 50-42). These Bulldogs have that type of talent. Grinch’s defenses are aggressive enough to force a turnover, probably two. If USC can accomplish that and the offense can continue to grow, this game should end up as one of those closer-than-score-would-suggest contests when all is said and done.
CFN’s Pete Fiutak is picking the Trojans to win 44-31:
USC will need a drive or two to warm up, everyone on social media will freak out, and then the avalanche will come as Williams and the attack find a groove to get up and pull away.
Our own Jon Gold has USC taking this one on the strength of its ground game:
… ultimately, Riley will play to the Bulldogs’ weakness and mix it up with Travis Dye, Austin Jones, and Raleek Brown out of the backfield. Last year, Fresno State lost all three games in which the opponent rushed for 180 or more yards. Riley won’t forget that.