The USC Trojans are heavy favorites in Week 0 and host a plethora of talent. But don’t look past San Jose State this season. Should you buy into the USC hype or pump the brakes on account of Brent Brennan’s squad?
The San Jose State vs. USC prediction indicates which side you should back.
San Jose State vs. USC Betting Preview
- Spread
USC (-30.5) - Moneyline
USC (-9000); San Jose State (+2500) - Over/Under
66 total points - Game time
8 p.m. ET - Location
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA - Predicted Weather at Kick
83 degrees, sunny, 4-6 mph winds - How to Watch
FuboTV, Pac-12 Network
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
All values below come from FanDuel’s multi-team entries for the weekend. For each team’s depth chart:
San Jose State Depth Chart | USC Depth Chart
- QB Caleb Williams, USC ($12,800)
- QB Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose State ($8,000)
- RB Austin Jones, USC ($10,200)
- RB RB MarShawn Lloyd, USC ($8,000)
- RB Kairee Robinson, San Jose State ($6,600)
- RB Darwin Barlow, USC ($5,500)
- RB Quali Conley, San Jose State ($5,100)
- WR Dorian Singer, USC ($9,800)
- WR Mario Williams, USC ($8.400)
- WR Tahj Washington, USC ($7,600)
- WR Brendan Rice, USC ($,7300)
- WR Charles Ross, San Jose State ($7,200)
- WR Michael Jackson III, USC ($6,500)
- WR Justin Lockart, San Jose State ($6,100)
- WR Nick Nash, San Jose State ($5,600)
- WR Kyron Hudson, USC ($5,400)
- TE Dominick Mazotti, San Jose State ($5,700)
- TE Lake McRee, USC ($5,200)
You need some clever financial footwork if you want to grab the top options on your DFS lineup for a given week. That’s the name of the game, after all.
Caleb Williams is the obvious play here as he’s the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, the heavy favorite to repeat, and arguably the best player in college football. SJSU’s defense certainly isn’t on par with some of their Mountain West counterparts, and should fall victim to Williams’ off-script ability and overall elite dual-threat capabilities in this one.
Grab Williams in your super-flex spot and watch as magic happens.
Elsewhere in this game, once you’ve secured Williams in your lineup, there are a few more options to target, on both sides.
Listed on the official depth chart as the co-starter with Brendan Rice, Kyron Hudson’s value is way too low to pass up. He’ll be featured to start the contest and with the “-or-” designation on his depth chart placement, he’s a factor to play all game long, potentially after the first-stringers are pulled.
Hudson has field-stretching ability and sure hands, making him a potential breakout player in a star-studded receiving corps.
If you can manage to grab one of the top two targets in the USC offense as well, do so in Mario Williams or Dorian Singer. Doing so will require you to find a great value play at another position, but SJSU’s team may feature into that.
Spartan running back Kairee Robinson hit his stride to end the season last year for San Jose State. The bowling ball of a running back was among the nation’s top backs at explosive runs of 10 or more yards while USC’s defense was the 15th-worst at allowing 10+-yard carries.
Robinson will get his touches, both in the passing and ground games, and should be counted on as the potential touchdown-man in the red zone all the same. He’s a low-end, high-ceiling option that allows you to fixate on higher-priced options this weekend.
Prediction for San Jose State vs. USC
The odds are stacked against San Jose State in this one, that’s for sure. The Trojans will likely head to Notre Dame in the middle of their schedule undefeated. It’s an easy schedule to open for USC as Williams defends his Heisman Trophy.
The defense for USC got better this offseason despite the losses of a few key players. Bear Alexander’s presence in the middle of their defense will allow for favorable matchups on the outside of their edge rushers and the potential emergence of linebacker Tackett Curtis is incredibly intriguing for them going forward.
They’ll be ahead in this one, but will their uber-aggressive defense be able to keep San Jose State in check for all four quarters? That’s unlikely.
As good as Williams and the Trojans offense is, they’ll not be playing in the whole game here as they could be pulled as early as the third quarter with enough of a lead. The back-door cover is ripe for the Spartans in this one.
Look, USC has something going for it when it comes to covering here. The Trojans are explosive. I know that. You know that. Your mother knows it.
San Jose State is winless since 2021 against the spread when they allow at least seven explosive plays. That’s the worst mark in that time. If USC can explode, literally, on offense against this Spartans defense, they’ll cover.
As tempting as that is, the USC defense needs to make much greater strides before 30 points is the comfortable margin of victory.
Grab San Jose State and the points and tune into the second half as that’s when your money will be made.
Prediction: USC 45, San Jose State 20
