USC vs. Penn State Betting Preview 01/02/17 – Rose Bowl Odds

Betting Preview

These might be the two best teams that aren’t playing in the CFP. Both teams turned their seasons completely around after slow starts and both teams have victories over teams that are in the CFP.

The Trojans got off to a 1-3 start and made the decision to switch quarterbacks. In came freshman Sam Darnold and everything changed as he passed for over 2600 yards and threw 26 touchdown passes. The Trojans never looked back as they ran the table and won their last eight games including handing the Huskies their only loss of the year 26-13. Their defense also stepped up and held six of their last eight opponents to 20 points or less.

Penn State got off to a 2-2 start and then quarterback Trace McSorely led the Nittany Lions on a run that saw them win their last 9 games of the season including handing Ohio State their only loss. In the last two games he passed for a total of 760 yards and threw eight touchdowns without an interception in wins over Michigan State and then Wisconsin in the Big 10 Championship Game. They have a great running back in Saquone Barkley who ran for over 1300 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. Their defense played very well during their streak as they held seven of the eight opponents to 24 points or less.

The oddsmakers opened up with USC as a 7.5 point favorite but it has been bet down to 6.5 while the total is set at 60 after being bet down from the opening 63. According to Covers.com Consensus Analysis 54% of the public like the idea of Penn State as a dog and are backing the Nittany Lions while 59% are impressed with both teams offenses and are behind the over.

The total has gone under in seven of USC’s last eight games overall and over in five of Penn State’s last six games overall.

Previous Meetings

01/01/09: Nittany Lions 24 @ Trojans 38
08/27/00: Trojans 29 @ Nittany Lions 5
08/25/96: Trojans 7 @ Nittany Lions 24

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