The No. 23 USC Trojans are set to usher in a new era when they open their first season as members of the Big Ten with a high-profile matchup against SEC powerhouse LSU on Sunday in the Vegas Kickoff Classic game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Trojans will be led by junior quarterback Miller Moss, who threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns in the team's Holiday Bowl win over Louisville. The Tigers enter the season ranked No. 13 in the country, and once again project to have one of the most explosive offenses in college football. Garrett Nussmeier takes over at quarterback for the Tigers and Kyren Lacy may be the next great LSU wide receiver.
Kickoff from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Tigers are favored by 4.5 points in the latest USC vs. LSU odds, while the over/under is 66.5 points via SportsLine consensus. Before making any LSU vs. USC picks, you need to see the Week 1 college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's Jimmie Kaylor.
Kaylor is an NFL, college football and DFS expert for SportsLine, who has covered the NFL and college football for close to a decade as a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. His background as a former college football All-American and NFL player gives him a unique perspective when building his fantasy lineups and locking in his betting picks. He has his finger on the pulse of the college football landscape and has been cashing in big for the last two years.
Kaylor destroyed the books in college football in 2023, netting a whopping 57.9 units while posting a 107-45-2 record. Anyone who followed his picks finished the season way up.
Now, Kaylor has dialed in on USC vs. LSU and just revealed his picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the college football oddsand betting lines on the spread,money lineandover/underfor LSU vs. USC:
- USC vs. LSU spread: LSU -4.5
- USC vs. LSU over/under: 66.5 points
- USC vs. LSU money line: LSU -185, USC +153
- USC vs. LSU picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why USC can cover
The Trojans will have a vastly different look on the defensive side of the ball with D'Anton Lynn taking over as defensive coordinator and Matt Entz taking over as linebackers coach and assistant head coach for defense. Lynn comes over from UCLA, where he built one of the top defensive units in the now-defunct Pac-12. Entz was the head coach at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State in 2023.
USC also projects to be dynamic on the offensive side once again in 2024. Miller Moss takes over at quarterback, and his experience in Lincoln Riley's offense should result in a smooth transition. In his lone start of the 2023 season, Moss threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns in USC's Holiday Bowl win over Louisville.See which team to pick here.
Why LSU can cover
With four returning starters, the Tigers may have the best offensive line in the SEC. Their experience up front will help ease the loss of 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and his top two wide receivers in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. New starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is in his fourth year with the program and has performed well when he's played. He was sharp in the Tigers' bowl game against Wisconsin, throwing for 395 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
LSU's high-octane offense will be facing a USC defense that ranked near the bottom of college football in most major statistical categories in 2023. The Trojans revamped their staff, but it's unreasonable to think they will become an elite defensive team in one offseason. The Tigers should have plenty of success running the ball with their experienced and talented offensive line.See which team to pick here.
How to make USC vs. LSU picks
Kaylor has analyzed LSU vs. USC from every angle and he's leaning Over on the point total. He has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread.He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
So who wins USC vs. LSU in the Kickoff Classic game in Las Vegas on Sunday, and what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the expert who profited $5,790 for $100 college football bettors in 2023, and find out.
