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California at USC Football Odds & Predictions

Written by Steve Janus

Two of the top teams in the Pac-10 meet this weekend as Cal heads into Trojan Country to battle always-feared USC. After stumbling earlier this season to Oregon State, the USC Trojans have been on a tear through their schedule. Cal has lost two games this season, at Maryland and at Arizona, but with Arizona as their only conference loss, the Bears are tied up with Oregon State for the number two spot in the Pac-10 behind, who else, USC. The USC Trojans are currently 21 point favorites over the Cal Bears with the total set at 53.5 points.

Cal’s offense has been one of the better units in the conference this season. The Bears are putting up an impressive 36.4 points per game and generating over 400 yards of total offense. Cal has been using the dual quarterback threat of Kevin Riley and Nate Longshore, and where many teams have failed at this strategy, the Bears have been successful with it. Riley has 10 touchdowns on the season and Longshore has accounted for 8, helping to lead Cal to their four conference wins.

Defense is usually pretty scarce in the Pac-10, but the Bears are one of the few exceptions. Cal is giving up just 21 points per game and right on the money at 300 points per game. This is usually more than enough for the offense to take control for California, but this week may be a different story against a USC team that, frankly, is better on both sides of the ball. If the Bears want to be in contention in this game, they will have to do against USC what they have done against other opponents, and that is to create turnovers. With 17 interceptions to their credit, this secondary could very well be the key to Cal’s chances on Saturday. Even with their impressive defense, Cal is a three touchdown underdog at USC.

The Trojans are obviously a talented offensive team. They are scoring over 40 points per game on over 470 yards of total offense (204.1 rushing, 256 passing per game). It’s been a combination of the efforts of underrated running backs C.J. Gable and Stafon Johnson, as well as quarterback Mark Sanchez that have helped drive one of the best offenses in the nation. USC will be facing one of the better defensive units on their schedule this week, but don’t expect much of a slowdown, the Trojans can put up points seemingly at will as of late.

It’s been ridiculous how good USC has played on defense this year. They are the nation’s best scoring defense, putting up over a TD per game. This is also a unit that has only given up 7 total touchdowns in 8 games this season. Simply put, there just isn’t any aspect of the game that USC’s defense hasn’t dominated. The Pac-10 is certainly a weaker conference than, say, the Big 12 or SEC, but the numbers are impressive nonetheless. Playing at home, the Trojans are 21 point favorites.

Cal might be the second or third best team in the Pac-10, but they are still light-years behind USC’s talent. The Trojans have been on a roll lately and will probably keep that roll going in a big way on Saturday. For the past few seasons Cal is always picked to be a potential upset game in the Pac-10 for USC, this year there’s no reason to believe the Trojans don’t walk away with another conference win.

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