Two college football superpowers will clash when No. 23 USC takes on No. 13 LSU this Sunday, Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m. ET. This neutral-site game will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and as the only college football game of the day, the stage is set for this to be a high-stakes battle.
It’s a shame we didn’t get this matchup a year ago, when Heisman-winning quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels were still suiting up for these schools. Instead, USC will start Miller Moss, while LSU is set to hand the reins over to Garrett Nussmeier.
Both sides expect to compete for a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff, and this season-opener could go a long way in strengthening either one of their cases. It goes without saying that this is a must-win game despite it coming so early in the year.
Which powerhouse will come out on top in Week 1? Here are the latest USC vs LSU odds and my prediction for how this one might shake out.
USC vs LSU Odds
College football odds are current as of Monday, Aug. 26, and courtesy of bet365 Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: USC (+165) vs LSU (-200)
- Spread: USC +4.5 (-110) vs LSU -4.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 63.5 (-110) / Under 63.5 (-110)
USC vs LSU Prediction
LSU 41, USC 38
These teams were defined by their offenses in 2023, but how far they go in 2024 could come down to how well they play on the other side of the ball. LSU (45.5 PPG) and USC (41.8) ranked first and third in scoring this past season, but the Trojans had a bottom-15 defense, and the Tigers were just outside the bottom third.
Both sides have made strides to improve those units. LSU made a change at defensive coordinator, while USC, according to Lincoln Riley, collectively added “1,400 pounds of muscle" on top of bringing in a new defensive coordinator.
Time will tell if either side can win on defense, but for now, this game looks like a shootout waiting to happen — and the odds reflect it. Trojans QB Miller Moss may not be Caleb Williams, but he still threw for six touchdowns in a bowl game last season, and he has a solid — albeit inexperienced — receiving corps.
Nussmeier also hung three touchdowns and 395 yards on Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl, and incoming receiver CJ Daniels (Liberty) looks like a promising target. I have a bit more faith in LSU due to collective experience and talent, but don’t be surprised if this game is won by whichever team has the ball last.
Sportsbook Play of the Day
USC vs LSU Best Bets
USC +4.5 (-110) vs LSU
USC went an abysmal 4-9 against the spread in 2023, but the expectations for this team are much lower this time around. The Trojans barely made the preseason Top 25, and it could take some time to adjust to life in the Big Ten.
With that said, it’s gotten to the point where it feels like the Trojans are being slept on ahead of this matchup. The pieces are still there for this to be a top offense, and for what it’s worth, the Tigers have lost each of their last four season-openers.
I’m expecting a back-and-forth battle, and this 4.5-point line gives us a slight edge in the event that we get a 35-31 result or something similar. I like LSU to win, but I’m not sure it’ll get the separation it needs to cover. Back USC against the spread with your college football bet of the day.
Over 63.5 Points (-110)
USC and LSU were two of the most Over-heavy teams in the nation last season. The Tigers were an FBS-high 12-1 (92.3%), while the Trojans came in just a few pegs lower at 10-3 (76.9%).
Both offenses should regress a bit this year, and each program has touted the work it’s done on defense since 2023. This is also one of the highest totals on the board for Week 1 of the college football season.
Even still, all signs point to the Over. Unless something drastic happens, we could easily see more than 70 points scored here.
