USC vs LSU Prediction & Betting Tips - Aug. 31, 2024 | College Football Week 1
USC vs LSU is one of the most exciting matchups of Week 1 as it is a game between two top-25 teams in the nation. The No. 23 ranked Trojans will visit the No. 13 ranked Tigers to kick off their college football seasons. Both teams are replacing former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, so it will be interesting to see how they'll play.
USC vs LSU prediction prediction
Not only are both of these teams replacing Heisman Trophy QBs, but they are also heading into the season with new defensive coordinators. While there are likely to be changes from the coordinators, the full vision of their defensive schemes might not be fully implemented yet.
That said, the Tigers struggled to defend against explosiveness last season, allowing 4.6 points per trip across their 40-yard line. That will not turn favorably for them against USC's offense which ranked third in the nation in 2023. Additionally, while the Trojans lost Caleb Williams to the NFL, they are bringing back Miller Moss who performed well when he played last season.
It is hard to pick a winner between these two teams. However, Miller Moss was impressive during the Holiday Bowl season and he could be the difference for the Trojans to lead them to a win in Week 1.
USC vs LSU prediction betting tips
Tip 1: Wager on the USC moneyline (+165). The Trojans are a small underdog, and as a result, provide good value for bettors.
Tip 2: Avoid the spread. At 4.5 points, it is too close to call and mostly comes down to luck. It is not worth the small odds of -110.
Tip 3: Bet the over of 64.5 points (-110). These are two teams with new defensive coordinators and will likely struggle in the first game with them.
USC vs LSU prediction head-to-head
Despite USC and LSU having two storied and prestigious football programs, they have only faced each other twice. The first matchup came in 1979 and was a 17-12 win for USC while the second game came was in 1985 and was a 23-3 win for LSU. Saturday night will be their first matchup in almost 40 years.