USC Football at UCLA Prediction and Odds for Week 12 CFB (Trojans slight favorites)

Chris Steele, USC Football, USC Trojans
Chris Steele, USC Football, USC Trojans / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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USC Football is going to be taking on UCLA in what is the biggest matchup of the year for the Trojans. This is the biggest SC-UCLA matchup since 2005. Both teams are ranked inside the top 16, as UCLA is No. 16 in the country and USC is No. 7. The Bruins come into the game 8-2, and the Trojans enter at 9-1.

Both teams have some strong similarities, too. Both teams have very good offenses (both are top 11 in the nation in points per game), and both teams have poor defenses (both are outside the top 50). Both are coached by offensive gurus who have plenty to play for this weekend. In USC's case specifically, they advance to the PAC-12 Championship with a win on Saturday.

USC Football at UCLA Odds Week 12

The odds for the USC Football game on Saturday, per WynnBET, are USC-2. It's -112 to take that USC-2, and -108 to take the UCLA +2. It's yet another game the Trojans are favored in, even if it's of course by a slight margin.

SC has been favored in every game this season, except for the one game they lost (at Utah). So, if that's any indication of how Saturday will end up, SC is in position to take the W in the Rose Bowl this week.

USC Football at UCLA Prediction Week 12

USC Football will likely lose against UCLA unfortunately. The Trojans have the better football team (better scoring offense, better scoring defense, better head coach), but UCLA on the road poses a bad matchup for them. That's because SC's biggest weakness plays into UCLA's biggest strength, which is running the football.

The Bruins are seventh in the nation with 240 rushing yards per game. USC's defense, on the other hand, has been atrocious in stopping the run. They place just 58th with 141.5 rushing yards per game allowed.

With how SC was torched on the ground last year by UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet (167 yards on 28 carries), it remains to be seen if the Trojans have significantly adjusted in that area of their game. UCLA put up 62 points against USC last year, and return the two players who torched them most (QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Charbonnet).

Take UCLA +2, in a high scoring game that's just not the best matchup for the Trojans. They're ranked higher than the Bruins for a reason, and again, are a better team. They are bound to lose an upset at some point this year though, and the UCLA rivalry matchup on the road is more likely to be the one than the Notre Dame machup at home.

dark. Next. Predictions for rest of USC Football season

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change