USC at Washington Odds, Betting Pick & TV Info

Posted by Kenny Bell on Thursday,November 10, 2016 9:41, EDT in

It’s the most important game of the year in the Pac-12 thus far on Saturday night when No. 20 USC visits No. 4 Washington in what could be a preview of the conference championship game if Southern Cal can pull the upset in this one. Washington can still get there with a loss Saturday but USC can’t. UW is a solid college football betting favorite.

USC at Washington Odds, Betting Pick & TV Info

When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Husky Stadium, Seattle
TV: Fox
Stream: Fox Sports Go
Radio: USC / Washington
Opening NCAA Football Lines: UW -8.5 (62)

Why Bet on USC?

USC, which suffered three disappointing losses in its first four games, is viewing this showdown in Seattle as an opportunity to win back respect it lost early on. Since switching to redshirt freshman Sam Darnold behind center, the Trojans have been a different team, making life easier for first-year coach Clay Helton.

The Trojans come off a 45-20 win over Oregon. Ronald Jones tied a school single-game record with four rushing touchdowns. Darnold had 309 yards passing and two touchdowns with one interception, and Deontay Burnett had seven receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown to help propel USC (6-3, 5-2 Pac-12) to its first five-game winning streak since 2013.

Trojans WR JuJu Smith-Schuster leads the Pac-12 in receptions (40) and receiving yards (576) in conference play. In wins against California and Oregon the last two games, Smith-Schuster was quiet. He had just eight catches for 76 yards in a pair of lopsided wins, but this week that will change. Washington has one of the best collections of defensive backs in the country.

This is the first ranked Husky team USC has faced since 2002 and the highest ranked since 1992. It will be USC’s first visit to Husky Stadium since 2009 (in Troy’s last trip to Seattle in 2012, the game was played at the Seahawks’ stadium while UW’s facility was being renovated). Although USC only has lost three times to the Huskies since 2002, the series traditionally features close outcomes. All 3 of Troy’s losses in 2016 have been to AP Top 25 teams away from home.

Why Bet on Washington?

ESPN’s College GameDay is headed to Seattle. It’s the second time in three weeks the show will originate from the site of where Washington is playing. It broadcasted from Salt Lake City on Oct. 29, prior to the Huskies’ 31-24 win against Utah. It’s the first time in Seattle since 2013.

After its 66-27 blowout of Cal last Saturday, Washington (9-0, 6-0 Pac-12) owns the second-longest winning streak in the country (12) and has scored more than 40 points seven times this year, which is tied for the most in the country.

In the win over the Bears, Jake Browning threw for 378 yards and six touchdowns to set Washington’s single-season record for TD passes. Browning’s 202.8 efficiency rating would be the highest in NCAA history if the season ended today (NCAA record: Russell Wilson, Wisconsin, 2011; 191.8). John Ross had 208 yards receiving and three scores. Dante Pettis caught three touchdown passes and threw another to lead UW. Pettis (11) and Ross (14) have now both tallied double-digit receiving touchdowns to become Washington’s first pair of receivers to do that in the same season.

UW leads the FBS in turnover margin (+1.63 per game) and pass efficiency (205.70) and is second fumbles recoveries (12), third in takeways (22), fourth in fewest interceptions (4) and fifth in fewest turnovers (7). UW is also No. 2 in scoring offense and 11th in scoring defense.

Last year, the Huskies scored a 17-12 win at then-No. 17 USC in a Thursday night game in the Coliseum. Myles Gaskin rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown while Sidney Jones and Darren Gardenhire notched crucial interceptions. It was the final game as USC coach for Steve Sarkisian, the former Washington coach. Since the 1947 season, Washington is 205-65- 3 (.756) when a Husky player rushes for 100 yards in a game. The Huskies were 5-4 in such games in 2015 and are 6-0 this year.

USC at Washington Betting Pick:

Under is 6-1- 1 in the last 8 meetings.
Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.

Take the points, go under the total in NCAA football betting.