USC Trojans vs. Utah Utes Picks, Predictions, Odds

The USC Trojans will look to continue their unbeaten season when they face the Utah Utes on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX from Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Updated on 05/10/2024

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USC TROJANS vs. UTAH UTES BETTING PREDICTION

Lincoln Riley has turned the USC Trojans into an immediate contender in the Pac 12. The USC program had grown stagnant since Pete Carroll made the leap to the NFL, but they might be set to have their best season since 2008 in Riley’s first year in Los Angeles. They will face their toughest test so far this year on Saturday when they travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Utes.

Score Prediction: Utah 30, USC 27
Best Bet: Under 65 (-110)

USC TROJANS vs. UTAH UTES BETTING ODDS

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USC TROJANS vs. UTAH UTES BETTING RESOURCES

Date: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022
Matchup: Pac-12
Venue: Rice-Eccles Stadium
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Time-TV: FOX, 8:00 p.m. ET
Expert Picks

USC TROJANS BETTING ANALYSIS

Caleb Williams hasn’t missed a beat since joining Lincoln Riley at USC. Williams has been one of the best quarterbacks in the country this season, completing 64.9% of his passes for 1,590 yards (8.5 YPA) with 14 touchdowns and an interception. Fellow transfer Jordan Addison has been fantastic with 32 receptions for 479 yads and six touchdowns, and Mario Williams has been the second-best receiver after coming over from Oklahoma with Williams.

Former Oregon running back Travis Dye is the second leading rusher in the conference through the first half of the season. Dye has run for 571 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 6.3 YPC. Austin Jones is averaging 6.9 YPC as the primary backup, and that has allowed USC to rank 15^th in Offensive SP+.

Defense is still an issue for USC. The Trojans have the 50^th ranked defense per SP+, and they have had some real trouble stopping the run. Opponents are averaging 4.6 YPC against this front seven, and the Trojans haven’t played a lot of teams that specialize at moving the ball on the ground. This pass defense has been great though, as USC is among the best teams nationally in terms of havoc stats. The Trojans have 12 interceptions and 24 sacks with Tuli Tuipulotu notching seven sacks already this season. USC ranks first nationally in interception rate and fourth in sack rate.

UTAH UTES BETTING ANALYSIS

The Utah Utes are coming into this game with a 4-2 record. They lost their season opener to Florida, and they were unable to keep up with UCLA in Los Angeles last week. The Utes have blown out their other four opponents they have faced this year though, winning all of those games by at least 21 points.

Cam Rising has thrived in this offense through the first half of 2022. Rising is completing 69% of his passes for 8.4 YPA with 13 touchdowns against three interceptions, and he is averaging 6.9 YPC and has run for three scores as the second-leading rusher on the roster. Tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Brant Kuithe have been two of his top three targets, and Devaughn Vele has emerged as the go-to receiver on the roster with his 6’5 frame.

Utah hasn’t been as strong on the ground as we have seen in the recent past though. Tavion Thomas is averaging just 4.5 YPC, and he was largely held in check by Oregon State two weeks ago. That is a concern coming into this game, as the Utes ran all over the Trojans last year.

The Utes rank in the top 40 in scoring defense and total defense. Utah ranks 38^th in Defensive SP+, and the star of this defense has been cornerback Clark Phillips III. Phillips has five interceptions, and he has returned two interceptions for touchdowns.

USC TROJANS vs. UTAH UTES BETTING TRENDS

• USC is 4-2 ATS last six games.
• USC is 1-4 ATS last five road games.
• USC is 10-4 SU last 14 road games.
• USC has gone UNDER in four of five road games.
• Utah is 4-1 ATS last five games.
• Utah is 7-1 ATS last eight home games.
• Utah has gone OVER in five of seven games.
• Utah is 5-0 SU last five home games.