Nebraska hosts No. 23 USC for a Week 10 matchup on Saturday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The Trojans are listed as 4.5-point road favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 59.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction, and best bet for this matchup between these two Big Ten opponents.
USC vs. Nebraska prediction, preview
USC Preview
The Trojans are still a long shot contender for the College Football Playoff. They need to win out, which would include a road win over Oregon, but they do still have a shot. This USC offense is capable of beating anybody on any given day. Jayden Maiava leads the nation in passing yards per game and Makai Lemon is one of the best wide receivers in college football. This explosive group ranks first in the nation in offensive EPA/play and second in offensive success rate. The USC defense is solid against the pass, but bad against the run. USC ranks 36th in defensive EPA/pass, but outside the top 100 in defensive EPA/rush. The Trojans have struggled when travelling away from the West Coast, and Lincoln Riley needs to solve that if he wants to finally break through to the CFP.
Nebraska Preview
Nebraska, like USC, is technically alive in the College Football Playoff race. The Cornhuskers have tough tests ahead, including this one, but Matt Rhule is having by far his best season at Nebraska. Rhule has already been rewarded with a two-year contract extenstion, eliminating him from contention for the open Penn State job. This would be a signature win for Rhule, who has never beaten a ranked team as the head coach at Nebraska. Dylan Raiola is having his best season as Nebraska’s quarterback, as well, but he is still throwing too many interceptions. In conference play, Raiola has six interceptions in five games. Nebraska cannot afford to give Jayden Maiava and USC extra scoring chances, so Raiola needs to avoid turning the ball over if Nebraska wants to win.
USC vs. Nebraska pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is USC -4.5. The Trojans have the best offense in college football. They can attack defenses from every angle and have an unstoppable receiver in Makai Lemon. Nebraska has not had to face an elite passing attack yet this season. That secondary will be tested to the maximum by Maiava. Meanwhile, USC has the pass defense to stack up with Dylan Raiola and it should limit explosive plays through the air. The way to beat USC is on the ground, and Nebraska does not have a serious rushing attack. The Trojans have advantages across the board, and Matt Rhule has never been able to win the big game at Nebraska. USC should win this one by at least a touchdown and keep its season alive.
