The Wildcats of Arizona (+3.5) are prepared to welcome their Pac-12 rival No. 22 USC Trojans (-3.5) to Arizona Stadium. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN2 and the opening kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.
USC Trojans at Arizona Wildcats Betting Preview
Arizona is playing the role of underdog and is currently getting 3.5 points in this Saturday Pac-12 game. The Trojans are also receiving -175 moneyline odds while the Wildcats are +155. Some good live betting possibilities may present themselves during the game.
The game’s line opened at 2 but early action has moved toward the Trojans.
The Trojans have lost 1.0 unit so far and are 0-4 against the spread (ATS). The team’s recorded an O/U mark of 3-1. The disappointing Wildcats have lost 4.8 units this season. They’re 2-2 ATS and have an O/U record of 0-3.
The Trojans have gone 2-2 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against conference opponents. The Wildcats are 2-2 SU overall and are also 1-0 SU in conference play.
The Trojans enter after a 39-36 win over Washington State last week. The Trojans secondary allowed the Cougars to air it out for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Offensively, JT Daniels completed 17 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns. Vavae Malepeai (78 rushing yards on 13 attempts, two TDs) and Stephen Carr (77 yards on eight carries) spearheaded the ground attack while Tyler Vaughns (seven receptions, 64 yards, one TD) and Velus Jones Jr. (two catches, 48 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Arizona just picked up a 35-14 win over Oregon State. Khalil Tate completed nine-of-17 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns. J.J. Taylor (284 yards on 27 rush attempts, two TDs) and Gary Brightwell (113 yards on 13 carries, one TD) handled the running game as Shawn Poindexter (four receptions, 92 yards, one TD) and Shun Brown (three catches, 42 yards, one TD) led the receiving corps in the win.
USC has run the ball on 45.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Arizona has an overall rush percentage of 58.6 percent. The Trojans have rushed for 110 yards/game (including 114 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have seven touchdowns on the ground this year. The Wildcats are putting up 247 rushing yards per game and have nine total rush TDs.
If the results so far this season are any indication, then the Wildcats should own the advantage in all aspects of the ground game, as their backfield has produced 5.7 yards per carry while their defense has allowed 4.3 YPC to opponents. The Trojans have ran for 3.6 yards per carry while allowing 5.0 YPC to opponents.
The Trojans offense has logged 266 yards per game in the air overall (230 per game versus conference opposition) and has four passing scores so far. The Wildcats have recorded 272 pass yards per game and have eight total pass TDs.
USC has let opponents rush for an average of 180 yards and pass for 215 yards per game. The Arizona defense has allowed 218.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 192.5 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Trojans have given up an ANY/A of 6.55 to opposing QBs, while the Wildcats are yielding an ANY/A of 6.78.
Passing-wise, Daniels is up to 738 yards this season, and has completed 54-of-95 attempts with four scores through the air and two interceptions. He has a 6.47 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.77 over the last two outings.
Look for Daniels to attack all areas of the Arizona secondary. Amon-Ra St. Brown (185 receiving yards and two touchdowns), Velus Jones Jr. (64 yards) and Tyler Vaughns (185 yards, one TD) have all been heavily involved recently.
Khalil Tate has completed 50-of-96 passes for 690 yards, three TDs and two INTs for Arizona. His ANY/A sits at 6.34 for the season and 15.92 across his past two games.
We expect the Wildcats to control tempo by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. Shun Brown (126 receiving yards, one TD) has stepped up lately, but J.J. Taylor (423 rush yards, three rush TDs) and Gary Brightwell (182 rush yards, one rush TD) have delivered significant production to the Arizona offense.
These two schools faced off a year ago with the final outcome being a 49-35 win for USC.
Free Pick: USC Trojans at Arizona Wildcats
SU Winner – Arizona, ATS Winner – Arizona
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The USC D has sacked opposing QBs eight times this season. Arizona has registered five sacks.
Arizona has lost two fumbles this season while USC has lost one.
The Trojans offense has tallied eight pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Wildcats have accounted for three such plays.
The USC defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Arizona has given up four such plays.
The USC offense has created six rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Arizona has created seven such runs.
The Trojans defense has allowed seven rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Wildcats have given up 10 such runs.
Arizona was getting 5 points in its last matchup and the O/U was set at 74. The under cashed and Arizona covered in the 35-14 victory over Oregon State.
Over its last three matchups, USC is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
USC was favored by 5 points in its previous game and the Over/Under was set at 50.5. The over cashed and USC did not cover in the 39-36 win over Washington State.
As a team, USC has produced 2.64285714285714 yards per carry across its past three games and 2.3 over its last two.
Arizona has averaged 6.2 yards per carry over its last three contests and 8.0 over its last two.
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