USC vs. LSU ATS pick, predictions and odds for early Top-25 clash (2024)

USC Trojans vs. LSU Tigers Betting Preview

LSU should remain potent offensively despite losing not only Daniels, but also first-round wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.

Tigers QB Garrett Nussmeier takes over an offense that features plenty of talent, from star tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones up front to promising pass-catchers Kyren Lacy at WR and Mason Taylor at tight end.

USC Trojans Betting News, Analysis

For USC, QB Miller Moss is under a ton of pressure to fill the massive shoes of Williams, but he does have a couple talented targets to throw to in speedster Zachariah Branch and 6-foot-6 former five-star prospect Duce Robinson.

Moss has waited for his turn in L.A. for the the last three years, serving as a backup in 2021, 2022 and 2023. He turned heads in his first career start in last year's bowl game against a tough Louisville defense, stepping in for Williams and leading USC to a 42-28 Holiday Bowl win over the Cardinals.

If Moss's Holiday Bowl performance (23-of-33 for 372 yards passing, 6 TDs and 1 int) was a sign of things to come for the Trojans offense, Riley and the Trojans will have a high-flying offense once again in 2024.

To compete in the Big Ten this year, USC will have to improve in a massive way on defense after allowing 34 points per game in 2023. The Trojans gave up at least 28 points in 11 of 13 games last year, including five games in which they allowed 40 points or more.

USC did make an upgrade at defensive coordinator this offseason, hiring D'Anton Lynn from UCLA, where Lynn took the Bruins from one of the worst defenses in the Pac-12 in 2022 to one of the best in 2023. If Lynn can just make USC adequte defensively, this team could be a surprise contender in its new conference.

LSU Tigers Betting News, Analysis

The Tigers' losses from a year ago didn't stop with the departures of Daniels, Nabers and Thomas Jr. to the NFL Draft. LSU also has new offensive coordinator this season in Joe Sloan, who was promoted from quarterbacks coach to OC after Mike Denbrock was hired by Notre Dame in the offseason.

Still, like USC, there's reason to trust the LSU offense despite all the turnover, and it starts with what we've seen from Nussmeier in his limited career action to date. Nussmeier, like Moss, played outstanding in USC's bowl game last year, with 395 yards, 3 TDs and 1 int on 31-of-45 passing. The Tigers return four starters on the offensive line, including arguably the best tackle duo in the nation in Campbell and Jones.

LSU has one of the best defensive players in the country in junior linebacker Harold Perkins Jr., and the Tigers' D also returns preseason second-team all-SEC safety Major Burns.

But LSU's successful 2023 season happened mostly in spite of its defense. Kelly responded by nabbing former Missouri DC Blake Baker and making him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football.

USC Trojans vs. LSU Tigers Prediction

The similarities between these teams is striking, which makes Sunday night's game feel like a coin flip.

The safest bet is probably the over. That's because even if these teams end up much improved defensively by season's end, they're likely going to struggle to get stops early, especially against quality offenses.

We also like the Trojans to keep this game close in front of what should be a pro-USC crowd in Vegas, which makes a play on USC +4.5 tempting.

USC vs. LSU Best Bets

• Over 64.5 (-110 at DraftKings)
• USC +4.5 (-115 at FanDuel)

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