The No. 17 USC Trojans host the No. 21 Iowa Hawkeyes for a Week 12 matchup on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET in Los Angeles, California.
The Trojans are listed as 6.5-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at O/U 48.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction, and best bet for this matchup between these two Big Ten opponents.
Iowa vs. USC prediction, preview
Iowa Preview
The Hawkeyes are coming off a tough loss against Oregon. Iowa still controlled its own destiny to make the College Football Playoff prior to that game, but those dreams are now dead. The big question is whether or not the Hawkeyes can bounce back. Iowa doesn’t have anything to play for these last couple of weeks, but Kirk Ferentz’s teams traditionally always play hard. This Iowa team is tough defensively, but struggles to create offense. Against USC, the Hawkeyes will likely need to score to keep up with one of the nation’s most explosive offenses. The offense had been playing well prior to that Oregon game, so this will be a big test to see if that unit can get back on track.
USC Preview
USC is still in the fight for the College Football Playoff. It has two tough tests left, this week against Iowa and next week against Oregon. However, if the Trojans win out, they will be firmly in the CFP field. This offense is one of the best in the nation, ranking fourth in offensive EPA/play. Jayden Maiava has been excellent at quarterback, and Makai Lemon is one of the best wide receivers in the nation. The defense has been solid compared to past Lincoln Riley teams, but it has still struggled against elite offenses like Notre Dame. However, the defense should be able to hold up against a predictable Iowa offense.
Iowa vs. USC pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is for the Trojans to cover as favorites. The USC defense is solid enough to slow down Iowa. The Hawkeyes’ offense is one-dimensional, which allows USC to sell out and stop the run. On the other side, it is the elite USC offense against the elite Iowa defense. The big difference in this game is the location. At home this season, USC is averaging 569 yards of offense and 49.2 points per game. On the road, they’re averaging 420 yards of offense and 27.5 points per game. This offense has been unstoppable in Los Angeles, and even though the Iowa defense is tough, Lincoln Riley should come up with ways to beat it.
USC is coming off a comfortable win over Northwestern, and the Trojans have an extra day of rest and preparation, as that game was on a Friday night. Meanwhile, Iowa is on the heels of an emotional, hard-fought loss. Both the matchup on the field and the situational spot are in USC’s favor. The Trojans should win this one by at least a touchdown.
