Maryland (3-3) vs USC (3-3)
Game Info: Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 4:00 pm (SECU Stadium)
Betting Odds: Maryland +7 / USC -7 --- Over/Under: 56.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The USC Trojans and the Maryland Terrapins meet in week 8 college football action from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a USC vs. Maryland prediction.
USC Recap
The USC Trojans come into this one looking to rebound from back-to-back losses after falling to 3-3 on the year thanks to a 33-30 loss to Penn State last time out. After this game, USC will head home for a matchup with Rutgers.
Trojans Trying To Get Back On Track
Miller Moss has thrown for 1,618 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions on 63.7% passing while Woody Marks has a team-high 579 rushing yards with 4 TDs and Quinten Joyner has 294 rushing yards with 3 touchdowns. Kyron Hudson leads USC with 262 receiving yards while Ja’Kobi Lane has a team-high 23 grabs for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns and Zachariah Branch has 23 receptions as well for 233 yards. Five more Trojans have 100+ receiving yards on the year as well. On defense, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold has a team-high 49 total tackles including 27 solo tackles while Eric Gentry has 2 sacks and Mason Cobb has 2 interceptions. USC’s defense as a whole has combined for 6 sacks and 6 interceptions this season.
Why the USC Trojans will win
- USC has won 18 of its last 20 games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- Maryland has lost each of its last five home games against conference opponents.
- Maryland has failed to cover the spread in each of its last seven games in October.
- The road team has covered the spread in four of Maryland's last five games.
Maryland Recap
The Maryland Terrapins come into this game looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses of their own, also slipping to 3-3 on the year with a 37-10 loss to Northwestern last time out. After this game, Maryland will head to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers.
Terrapins Trying To Rebound
Billy Edwards Jr. has thrown for 1,740 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions on 68.4% passing while Roman Hemby has a team-high 360 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Tai Felton leads Maryland’s receiving group with 55 catches for 719 yards and 5 touchdowns while Kaden Prather has 350 receiving yards and 34 receptions along with 3 touchdowns. Dylan Wade has 200 receiving yards while another two Maryland receivers have 100+ receiving yards on the year. On defense, Ruben Hyppolite II has a team-high 26 total tackles while Glendon Miller has 4 interceptions and Jalen Huskey has 3 interceptions. Caleb Wheatland also has 3 sacks as well on the year. On the year, Maryland’s defense has combined for 12 sacks and 8 interceptions so far this year.
Why the Maryland Terrapins will win
- Maryland has won six of its last nine games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams.
- USC has lost six of its last seven games against conference opponents.
- USC has failed to cover the spread in each of its last six road games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- The home team has covered the spread in each of USC's last five games.
USC vs. Maryland Prediction
I’m on the under here. I just don’t trust this Maryland offense if I’m being honest, but I also don’t know how much I trust USC given the travel schedule this team has had, flying back and forth across the country over the last few weeks. I think this is just going to be an ugly game and a 24-17 or even 31-24 kind of game still gets us under the number and I could see it. Give me the under here.
Chris’s Pick Under 56.5
AUTHOR: Chris Ruffolo
Follow Chris Ruffolo on Twitter @ruffthepickdawg