Illinois is hosting USC on Saturday afternoon of Week 5. The game will take place at 12:00 p.m. ET in Champaign, Illinois.
The Trojans are 6.5-point road favorites in this game on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at O/U 60.5 points. This is a preview, prediction and pick for this USC vs. Illinois Big Ten conference matchup.
USC vs. Illinois prediction, preview
USC Preview
It has been a great start to the 2025 season for the Trojans. Despite having No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and other incredibly talented teams, Lincoln Riley has never made a College Football Playoff as the head coach at USC. This team was considered a dark horse candidate to make it out of the Big Ten this season, and they have fit the bill so far. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava has been fantastic, ranking sixth in the nation in passing yards with a 7-0 TD-INT ratio. Maiava has been able to create electric plays out of nowhere, leading the nation with 12.7 yards per attempt this season. USC is already 2-0 in Big Ten play, having defeated Michigan State and Purdue. This will be its toughest test so far, with a road game against a ranked Illinois team.
Illinois Preview
The biggest question around this game is whether or not Illinois will get off the mat. The Fighting Illini entered the season with high expectations after barely missing out on the College Football Playoff last season. They were expected to be in competition with teams like USC and Indiana for the fourth Big Ten College Football Playoff spot, assuming Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State all get in. That made last week’s game against Indiana massive for the Fighting Illini. The Hoosiers demolished Illinois 63-10 in that game. The Fighting Illini couldn’t stop Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana passing attack, which is a bad sign heading into this matchup with Maiava and the Trojans. Illinois suffered multiple injuries in the secondary, including star cornerback Xavier Scott. Scott is likely out for the season, but whether or not they can get a couple of those other pieces back for this game could be a huge factor.
USC vs. Illinois pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is the USC team total over 34.5 points. USC is averaging 52.5 points per game this season, and they can create explosive plays as well as anyone in the country. The Trojans rank first in both offensive EPA/play and offensive success rate. They are an unstoppable force, coming up against a defense that got demolished last week. Illinois ranks 75th in the country in defensive EPA/pass, and its secondary injuries are stacking up. This is a statement game for USC and Lincoln Riley to prove that they can win Big Ten road games against ranked teams. They should put up a big number and get the win in Champaign.
