Battle of the Struggling: USC vs. Rutgers Showdown Awaits

The USC Trojans (3-4, 1-4) and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-3, 1-3) are set to face each other in a Big Ten matchup on Friday night, both aiming to snap their respective three-game losing streaks. USC has suffered a series of close losses, including a recent defeat to Maryland with a final score of 29-28, marked by their inability to maintain fourth-quarter leads. Conversely, Rutgers, dealing with several injuries, will travel three time zones after a narrow 35-32 loss to UCLA at home.

Kickoff is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET at United Airlines Field in the LA Memorial Coliseum. The Trojans are currently favored by 14 points according to the latest odds from SportsLine, with the over/under for total points set at 56.5, a rise from the opening line of 51.5. Before placing bets on the game, it’s recommended to consult the college football predictions and betting insights available from the SportsLine Projection Model.

This model runs simulations for every FBS college football game 10,000 times and has shown a significant profit of over $2,000 for players betting $100 on its top-rated spread picks. This season alone, it holds a record of 14-7 on those top-rated picks over the past month. The model has now focused on the USC vs. Rutgers game, releasing its predictions and advice.

The betting lines for the game are as follows:

– Spread: Trojans -14
– Over/under: 56.5 points
– Money line: USC -629, Rutgers +447
– USC record against the spread: 4-3-0
– Rutgers record against the spread: 3-3-1

For streaming, viewers can access the game on FuboTV.

As for Rutgers, they will rely significantly on star running back Kyle Monangai, who has recorded 154 carries for 845 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. In their last game, he achieved 106 yards and three touchdowns, helping to narrow the score against UCLA. Monangai will face a USC rush defense that allows an average of 4.5 yards per attempt. Given the depleted receiving corps for Rutgers, Monangai’s performance will be crucial for keeping the game competitive.

On the other hand, USC benefits from playing at home, holding a 3-0 record against the spread in their own stadium this season. However, they have struggled with closing out games in the fourth quarter, requiring their defense to perform better later in this matchup. Quarterback Miller Moss has a solid TD-INT ratio of 12-6 against conference teams, with an improved 6-2 ratio at home and a completion rate of 65.1%. He will be tested against a Rutgers defense allowing an average of 385.3 yards per game. Rutgers has also found it challenging to perform on the road, having lost nine of their last 11 away games.

Finally, SportsLine’s model leans towards the Under for total points, projecting 54 combined points in the game. The model indicates that one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time, providing further insights for potential bettors. Visit SportsLine to discover which side of the spread is recommended.

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