USC Trojans (7-5) vs Louisville Cardinals (10-3)
Game Info: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 8:00 pm (Petco Park)
Betting Odds: USC Trojans +7.5 -- Over/Under: 57.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Louisville Cardinals will play the USC Trojans on Wednesday night in the Holiday Bowl at Petco Park in San Diego, California. Louisville has lost two games in a row, while USC has dropped three in a row. Let’s take a look at the betting matchup and the Louisville vs USC prediction.
Louisville Preview
The Louisville Cardinals are 10-3 (7-1) this season and they finished second in the ACC standings. Louisville lost to Florida State by a score of 16-6 in the ACC Championship game. The Cardinals also lost to Pittsburgh and Kentucky, but picked up notable wins against Notre Dame, Duke, Virginia Tech, and Miami. The Louisville offense is scoring 30.9 points per game with 244 passing yards per game and 175.3 rushing yards per game. Jack Plummer has thrown for 3,063 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions for the Cardinals this season. Jawhar Jordan (questionable) has rushed for 1,128 yards and 13 scores, while Jamari Thrash has caught 63 passes for 858 yards and six touchdowns. The Louisville defense is allowing 19.7 points against per game this year.
USC Preview
The USC Trojans are 7-5 (5-4) this year and they finished tied for fourth in the PAC-12 standings. USC started the season with six straight wins, but lost five of their last six games. The Trojans lost to UCLA, Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Notre Dame, while beating Cal by one point in their last six games. The USC offense is averaging 41.7 points per game with 329.8 passing yards per game and 138.8 rushing yards per game. Caleb Williams is not playing in this game, so USC is expected to go with Miller Moss as the quarterback. MarShawn Lloyd has rushed for 820 yards and nine scores, while Tahj Washington has caught 52 passes for 963 yards and six touchdowns. The USC defense is giving up 34.9 points against per game this season and is one of the worst units in the country.
USC Trojans Team Facts
- USC has lost each of its last nine games as an underdog.
- USC has failed to cover the spread in each of its last 10 games played at neutral venues.
- Seven of USC's last eight games against non-conference opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
Louisville Cardinals Team Facts
- Louisville has won six of its last seven matches when playing with a rest disadvantage.
- Louisville has covered the spread in six of its last seven December games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- Louisville has won the first quarter in each of its last five games against non-conference opponents.
- Each of Louisville's last five December games as a favorite have gone UNDER the total points line.
Louisville vs USC Betting Prediction
Louisville comes into this game after a great regular season and they have the opportunity to get their 11th win of the season here. The Cardinals did lose their last two games, but will face a horrible defense here. USC had a terrible finish to the season in their last six games and they will be without Caleb Williams for this game. USC’s offense was one of the best in the country, but their defense was really bad. I expect Louisville to have a field day on offense, but I do expect USC to score points as well. Even without Williams, the Trojans have plenty of talent and should be able to score 25+ points. Take the over in this matchup.
David’s Pick Over 57.5
AUTHOR: David Racey
Mitch's Take...
