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The USC Oregon spread was sitting at -14.5 in favor of the Ducks. This line has not moved at all this week. You can bet this game at Sportsbook.com here.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Oregon -14.5 & 68
Opening Line & Total: Ducks -14.5 & 66.5
No. 4 Oregon posted a huge win over Stanford last week, but the Ducks can’t rest just yet with 8-2 USC coming to town off two lopsided wins.
The Trojans have dismantled their past two opponents (42-17 at Colorado and 40-17 versus Washington), but they could be without star WR Robert Woods who is questionable because of lingering ankle and shoulder injuries. Even with Woods, they just don’t stack up to the high-flying Ducks (46.7 PPG, 3rd in nation). In the past two meetings with USC, Oregon has rushed for 702 yards (7.1 YPC) and scored 100 points. RB LaMichael James has 422 yards (7.0 YPC) and 4 TD in these two games against the Trojans. Turnovers will be key in this matchup, as the Ducks have 10 takeaways in their past three games while USC has just one in the same span.
Trojans QB Matt Barkley has thrown 29 TD and only 6 INT this year, including a sterling ratio of 19 TD and 3 INT in the past six games. But he hasn’t been very good against the Ducks in his career, completing 47-of-87 passes (54%) for 451 yards (5.2 YPA), 3 TD and 3 INT in two huge losses (53-32 and 47-20). WR Robert Woods leads the Pac-12 in receptions (9.2 per game) and is second in receiving yards (113 YPG), but he was hardly used last week, catching just two passes for five yards. Although Oregon ranks 78th in FBS in pass defense (237 YPG) and will likely not have suspended star CB Cliff Harris on the field, the Trojans could be better served to run the football. RB Curtis McNeal has rushed for 498 yards (6.9 YPC) and 3 TD in the past four games and senior RB Marc Tyler is slowly regaining his health, scampering for 50 yards on just seven carries last week. Tyler totaled 85 yards with 2 TD versus Oregon last year.
James, the nation’s top ground gainer (151 YPG), has rushed for 1,128 yards and 10 TD in his past six games (188 YPG), including 146 yards and three scores in the win over the Cardinal last Saturday. But he should have a much tougher time against an excellent USC run defense (100 YPG, 8th in FBS) that held Washington to 46 yards on 24 carries last week. But if the Ducks feel compelled to throw the football more, QB Darron Thomas is perfectly capable of obliging. Thomas has completed 61% of his passes for 8.3 YPA, 22 TD and 5 INT this season. In last year’s game against USC, he was nearly perfect, completing 11-of-17 passes for 155 yards, 3 TD and 0 INT. Two years ago, he was picked off twice by the Trojans, but still racked up 335 yards of offense (238 passing and 117 rushing) and scored four touchdowns. USC currently ranks 100th in the nation in passing defense (263 YPG), so it could be another huge night for Thomas.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com
