On Saturday, September 11, the USC Trojans host the Stanford Cardinal at 10:30 p.m. ET at L.A. Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. This series was all Stanford for quite some time, with the Cardinal going 7-2 from 2009 to 2016. However, USC has flipped the script, going 3-1 in the last four meetings between the two programs.
Will Clay Helton lead his team to yet another victory over the Cardinal? Keep reading our Stanford vs. USC picks and predictions to find out.
Stanford vs USC odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Stanford was getting 17 points when this one opened, but the public has been on USC and the Cardinal are now getting 17.5 in some places. The total is also moving with the general consensus. It opened at just 51.0 but has been bet all the way up to 53.5.
Be sure to check out the full college football odds before placing your bets, and also view the full line movement for this game.
Stanford vs USC picks
Picks made on 9/10/2021 at 6:05 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Stanford vs USC game info
• Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
• Date: Saturday, September 11, 2021
• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
Stanford vs USC betting preview
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NCAA football weather info.
Key injuries
Stanford: WR Michael Wilson (out), CB Salim Turner-Muhammad (out), S Jonathan McGill (out)
USC: RB Kenan Christon (doubtful), DL Drake Jackson (questionable), DL Nick Figueroa (questionable), DL Jacob Lichtenstein (questionable), DL Korey Foreman (questionable), CB Chris Steele (questionable), CB Adonis Otey (questionable), S Isaiah Pola-Mao (questionable), S Briton Allen (questionable), RB Darwin Barlow (questionable), WR Jake Smith (out)
Find our latest NCAA football injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 5-0 in the last five games in which Stanford was coming off a game where it scored less than 20 points. Find more NCAA betting trends for Stanford vs. USC.
Stanford vs USC predictions
Stanford +17.5 (-110)
Stanford really had a rough game against the Kansas State Wildcats in the season opener, as the Cardinal ended up losing 24-7 as a 3-point underdog. Stanford only rushed for 39 yards in that game, which is a disaster when considering that Austin Jones is supposed to be one of the best players on the roster. Fortunately for David Shaw’s team, this matchup should make it a bit easier for Jones to find some space.
While USC was ranked third in rushing defense in the Pac-12 last year, the team only returned six starters from that unit. Meanwhile, the Trojans are also insanely banged up along the defensive line, which makes it hard to believe that they’ll be able to throw their best run stuffers out there in this one. With that in mind, Stanford should be able to move the ball down the field while also having a decent time of possession when it’s all said and done.
The Cardinal will also be turning to Tanner McKee as the starting quarterback in this game, so that should be a small boost to their passing game. Jack West was absolutely miserable in the opener, throwing for just 76 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. McKee came in and went 15 for 18 for 118 yards and a touchdown, and he didn’t throw any interceptions. If that performance is any indication of what we’ll see the rest of the season, Stanford should be more competitive than it was last week. USC is also dealing with some issues in the secondary, where Chris Steele — the only returning starter at corner — is dealing with a bad hamstring.
On the other side, Stanford brought back nearly its entire secondary from last season. That unit wasn’t particularly good or anything, but the experience will serve the Cardinal well when going against Kedon Slovis and an excellent Trojans passing game. Stanford won’t be able to outright shut this group down, but the team would be in good shape if it can bend but not break.
Overall, a win for Stanford likely isn’t in the cards, but it should be a game that is decided by two touchdowns or less.
Over 53.5 (-110)
Stanford scored only seven points in last week’s loss to Kansas State, but the team should be better offensively in this one. For starters, the previously-mentioned switch to McKee is likely going to bring the Cardinal’s passing game back to life. That would be massive for Jones, who wouldn’t have to deal with seeing extra defenders in the box. At the same time, USC’s injuries on defense will also make it hard for the team to be fully prepared for this one.
On the other side, Slovis is one of the best quarterbacks in the country and USC scored 30 pretty easily a week ago. The team put up 416 yards of total offense, but we know the Trojans are capable of doing a lot more damage than that.
For what it’s worth, the last time these teams met, the Trojans won 45-20. The total in that one was just 44.0, and it marked the third time in the last four games that these two combined to hit an Over.
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