The Rutgers Scarlet Knights and USC Trojans have never played before, but their first matchup is a doozy. Both teams are on three-game losing streaks and only have one conference win on their résumés.
Get the latest betting odds, in-depth spread analysis, and our top pick in this Rutgers vs. USC preview ahead of Friday’s all-new Big Ten matchup.
Rutgers vs. USC Betting Preview
All Rutgers vs. USC odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
USC -6 - Spread
USC -13.5 - Moneyline
USC -530, Rutgers +390 - Over/Under
55 points - Game Time
11:00 p.m. ET, Friday, Oct. 25 - Location
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, Calif. - Predicted Weather at Kick
63 degrees, 2 mph winds, partly cloudy - How To Watch
Fox
Despite the lackluster play from both teams over the last three weeks, the over is a trendy pick in this one. It has hit in six of Rutgers’ last nine games and 10 of USC’s last 13 at home.
MORE: CFN Betting Parlay Calculator
Moneyline bettors will have to sort through two tough straight-up picks this week, as the Knights are 2-9 in their last 11 on the road and 1-7 in their last eight against Big Ten opponents.
The Trojans haven’t fared much better, going 1-6 in the conference dating back to last season. In terms of the spread, USC has struggled in October, owning a 1-7 ATS record in their previous eight games.
Rutgers’ Winning Probability
If the spread didn’t make it clear, the Knights aren’t expected to leave southern California with a W. In fact, the FPM gives them a 33.6% chance of producing such an outcome. But it’s not all bleak for the Scarlet and Gray, as that’s their lowest win probability across their final five games:
- vs. Minnesota: 50.4%
- at Maryland: 49.6%
- vs. Illinois: 35.4%
- at Michigan State: 48.8%
USC’s Winning Probability
The FPM expects the Trojans to end their skid, as they own a 66.4% win probability in Week 9. With over 50% rates in three of its final four matchups, USC still has a chance to at least mirror its 7-5 regular-season record from last year, even if it should be considered a disappointment.
- at Washington: 50.6%
- vs. Nebraska: 53.8%
- at UCLA: 75.1%
- vs. Notre Dame: 34.9%
Prediction for Rutgers vs. USC
Lincoln Riley kicked his USC tenure off with an 11-1 record, spearheaded by an electric offense. Since then, the Trojans have gone 11-11.
After an impressive neutral site victory over LSU in Week 1, Riley’s squad has dropped four of its last five contests, albeit by a combined 11 points. The road hasn’t been particularly kind either, as USC lost to Michigan, Minnesota, and Maryland despite being favorites.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
On the other sideline, the Scarlet Knights got out to one of the hottest starts in program history, winning their first four games. Then, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and UCLA handed them three straight Ls.
Despite RB Kyle Monangai being a force on the ground, Rutgers simply doesn’t have enough firepower to upset USC. That said, they do have enough to cover on the cross-country trip from Piscataway, N.J., to Los Angeles.
Take USC to win, Rutgers to cover, and the under to hit in this new-look Big Ten battle.
Prediction: USC 27, Rutgers 20
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