FOOTBALL

An Early USC Line That Will Raise Eyebrows

USC is a 3-point favorite for its Oct. 15 game at Utah according to FanDuel.

This early line might raise some eyebrows given how many pundits are picking Utah to win the Pac-12 South.

I think USC can win the Pac-12 South and lose at Utah. It’s traditionally a tough game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

But maybe the oddsmakers figure most people want to bet USC with all the Lincoln Riley buzz and just want to cover themselves.

USC is also an 11.5-point favorite over Stanford, per FanDuel.

  • Oregon guard Eric Williams, who was considering USC, has decided to transfer to the University of San Diego.

70 thoughts on “An Early USC Line That Will Raise Eyebrows”

    2. Utah usually beats the Trojans at the line of scrimmage with physical play, and their next meeting won’t be any different. Lincoln Riley has done everything to improve the team except upgrading the linemen.

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  3. The question is will USC fans immediately return to the Coliseum for the 1st home game, or will they wait and see if the team gets off to a fast start??

    Good question for Scott Wolf- How are 2022 Season Ticket and Individual Games Tickets selling. I think we will get a good measure on when the fans return sometime in August when the season ticket season ticket deadlines.

    I say buy your tickets now for the best seat locations before the entire town jumps on the bandwagon. I also believe this team will be rolling by November as the new and old players learn to play together.

    USC will be in the 2023 Rose Bowl- Great start for the Lincoln Riley era at SC.
    I agree with Scott Wolf- Brandon Rice will be our home run receiver he has unbelievable talent, and will become an All–American playing with Caleb.

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    2. We renewed. But once it gets as packed as it was during PC, I’ll be leaning towards watching from home.

      But at the end of the day, it’s up to the boss.

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    1. It is only May and we’re arguing about a game 4-months away. Football really is the Number-1 American sport, and is found only in America. (No other country is foolish enough to take it up– too expensive and too violent)

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      1. Well, John…no other country had [or has] gunfights in the streets everyday either — we’re just ahead of the curve…

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    2. To paraphrase Mike Madsen from Once Upon a Time In Hollywood –“We’ll be sure to remind you of your pick when the time comes..”

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      2. What else is America No. 1 in the world in–
        The most COVID cases
        The most guns per citizen
        The most school-ground massacres; and
        The most expensive to live in (probably)

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      4. I’m guessing the half dozen or more mass school shootings each and every year aren’t simply a result of loner kids getting hold of daddy’s gun —- someday we’ll get to the bottom of the horrendous politics behind this…

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      5. …but –rounding off to 40% — we’re a real solid 12th!
        #NumberOneIsWithinReach

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      6. No problem MG, but will you congratulate me when my prognostication comes to fruition. I know you hate it when I’m right.

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  5. Come on Owns- your picking Stanford to beat USC……….. ? Your predictions have me worried about your mental state when it comes to football. Did you also predict that Davey Crockett, Col. Jim Bowie, and company would defeat General Santana’s massive army from Mexico at the Alamo!

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      1. Yes, J.O. is not really a gambler except when he comes on this blog he is gambling that he gets his head knocked off, which seems to bother him as much as a rhino with 2 flies on its back i.e. not much.

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    2. Dying at the Alamo was stupid. The Alamo held no strategic value to either Sam Houston or Santana. Those yahoos that died at the Alamo should have abandoned the Alamo and joined Sam Houston’s Army for the decisive Battle of San Jacinto.

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      1. Maybe you’re right…but they weren’t yahoos…
        #IRememberSomebodySayingTheyBoughtHoustonTime…
        #…ToAssembleTheBodiesHeNeededToFightSantana
        #[ItMightHaveBeenJOHNWAYNE,Though]

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  6. Scotty- It’s NOT the oddsmaker to pick the winner, but to BALANCE the money bet on both sides. If too much money is coming in on one side or the other the spread will change to try to balance. Two gamblers each bet $500 on the same game but opposite teams. The house (casino) takes in $1,000. Loser gets nothing and winner gets 190% of his wager or in this case $950. The house makes 5% of EVERY bet IF they can balance the wagers. The casino nor oddsmakers care not who wins. To ensure no ties, add or subtract a half point to the spread. There are professional gamblers who say that college football is among the greatest opportunities to make money because so many in this arena are emotional. Personally, I don’t even enjoy gambling when I’m winning so I have no dog in this fight. It always amuses me to hear idiots say, “Those oddsmakers really know how to pick a winner.” Not so much. Thy DO know how to set a spread to balance the bets. Fight On!

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    1. Good analysis ZZZ.

      I too gave up gambling years ago when even winning wasn’t that much of a kick. I mean, you win a $500 bet but have thousands of dollars of bills each month, what difference does $500 make?

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  7. To J.O.’s comment about the brave men who died at the Alamo being “yahoos,”
    that was a pretty cold&crude observation, J.O., even by your low standards

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    1. I don’t know where that one came from either, John.
      [There isn’t ONE person in Congress today who’d die for his principles –not one single one]…
      #SoLet’sHonorTheMenWhoDid

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      1. Michael, first they would have to find their principles and that would take a lot of polling. In Fountainhead, Ayn Rand “he’ll have to poll the room to learn what he thinks.”

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      2. This congress would make Ayn Rand sick to her stomach. [I met Ayn Rand at USC when she visited Dick Miller’s class —- as strong a person as you will ever meet]….

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  8. OWNS UCLA too should abandon the ship, and join the other army in town wearing cardinal and gold. The battle against the USC Trojans in the next five years will be too difficult as will the rest of the Pac 12 with ZERO FANS IN THE STANDS AT THE ROSE BOWL. The athletic department is in severe deb it’s time to throw away the powder blue and gold, and wave some white flags.

    The Bruin athletic dept. is a bunch of bozos playing football, paying high rent at the Rose Bowl they cannot afford, and hoping one day they will be competitive in football.

    Stick with softball OWNS- UCLA has a fine program in women’s softball, and you won’t have to compete with USC in that sport. Women’s softball has a chance to make some profit to pay off the debt from your terrible football program.

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    1. I heard that Chip was asking his A. D. if it was possible to get new uniforms “that are more baby-blue than the old ones —-something more along the lines of what you see in the baby blanket section at Target…”

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    2. Why are the rah-rah’s so worried about UCLA’s financial NUT?

      tommyd, shouldn’t you worry about the Geo. Tyndall settlement NUT

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      2. Are you kidding MG ?? I knew her quite deeply. She had a big mouth tho. I can’t believe you missed the movie!!!!

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Google “Michael Guarino, Deputy City Attorney”, Maria…..
        #JudgeForYourself….

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      5. ..actually better make that “Michael Guarino Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney” [there’s a bunch of us –spread out over the whole country]…

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      6. WOW #69904. Hot damn. That is really impressive Michael Joseph. Hot Lupe Velez jumping beans. I’m at a loss for words !!!!!!!

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      7. Well, yeah, but…

        You didn’t know who Linda Lovelace was!!!!!

        I rarely side with anyone else but you MG. But I’ve gotta go with Maria on this one. 🙂

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  10. So I wonder how many odds makers expect USC to change quickly? I am optimistic. I can be this way because I know the largest problem USC faced with the game was chronic disorganization.
    I don’t think Lincoln Riley will send out 10 men for a p.a.t. Or put up with missed assignments. Stupid time outs and unprepared players should begin to disappear. My confidence comes from the thought the Riley knows football better than Helton knows barbeque.
    Optimistic thought is better than worrying about the past.

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    1. Ghost of Me…….perfect. Love your barbeque comment. I am still traumatized by the photos of helton with apron on and spatula in hand.
      Whereas Riley does know football AND TALENT & is organized and sets high expectations for the team that will pay dividends to them and to USC.

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  12. Amanda Seyfried starred as Linda Lovelace in a 2013 movie of the same name. Linda Lovelace. It’s a good movie. But not as good as Deep Throat. That one broke the mold. Opened doors etc.

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      2. THANK YOU. . BUT YOU DONT LIKE MARK FELT ?? The FBI guy known as Deep Throat ????? Watergate. He blew the whistle

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  14. Wow. There’s some company here now. Meanwhile it’s 3a m here in LA and all thru the house not a creature was stirring. Not even a mouse !!! However there’s plenty of cockroaches down here in the basement where I live. Look everyone they’re doing the twist

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      1. P. S.
        How’s THIS for staying up late, G.T….?
        #[IDon’tCareWhatMyBabysitterSez…
        #IStayUpAsLateAsIWant]…

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  15. BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO———-SO IS GOING TO SLEEP WHEN YOURE ON A RED HOT ROLL AND THE HOUSE IS YELLING ENCORE ENCORE MORE. MORE !!

    Liked by 2 people

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