USC is hosting Michigan State on Saturday night of Week 4. The game will take place at 11:00 P.M. ET in Los Angeles, California.
The Trojans are 19.5-point home favorites in this game on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 55.5 points. This is a preview, prediction and pick for this Michigan State at USC Big Ten matchup.
Michigan State at USC prediction, preview
Michigan State Preview
The Michigan State Spartans are 3-0 heading into this matchup, but it has not been pretty. The Spartans won a shootout in overtime against Boston College and their defense struggled against Youngstown State in what should have been an easy victory. This is the second season with head coach Jonathan Smith and quarterback Aidan Chiles. Spartans fans are hoping that they will make a jump this season, and this is their first real test. Michigan State isn’t at the level of winning the Big Ten or making the College Football Playoff yet, but it needs to compete against teams like USC if it wants to build momentum going forward.
USC Preview
It has been a brilliant start to the season for the Trojans. They have a roster that is capable of making it to the College Football Playoff if they can get everything to click. Transfer quarterback Jayden Maiava has been fantastic for USC and has become a dark-horse Heisman contender. Maiava ranks fifth in the nation in passing yards and has a 6-0 TD-INT ratio, plus two rushing touchdowns. The USC defense has also performed at a higher level than in past years. Head coach Lincoln Riley has never made a College Football Playoff in his tenure at USC, but if USC can take care of business in games like this that it should be winning, its schedule sets up for it to have a double-digit win season.
Michigan State at USC pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is the USC team total over 37.5 points. This has been the best offense in the country this season, ranking first in FBS in offensive EPA/play and first in offensive success rate. Michigan State’s pass defense has been horrific, ranking 123rd in the nation in defensive EPA/pass and 109th in defensive passing success rate. Jayden Maiava and this USC offense should be able to pick Michigan State apart. Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane look like an unstoppable wide receiver duo who should feast in this game. USC is averaging 66 points per game in its two home games so far this season, and it should hang a huge number in its Big Ten home opener.
