USC Virginia Predictions

USC heads across the country to take on the ACC’s Virginia Cavaliers in each school’s season opener on Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 3:30 EST on ABC. The 3rd ranked USC Trojans enter the contest as healthy 19-point favorites at JustBet Sportsbook. Jimmy Boyd’s USC/Virginia college football betting preview provides more insight on one of Saturday’s highest profile matchups.

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The challenge for USC could be not looking ahead to its second game of the season with No. 2 ranked Ohio State. That doesn’t figure to be much of a problem though when looking at the recent history of the Trojans. Southern Cal has set an NCAA record with six straight 11-win seasons with a top four finish in the final AP poll in each and every one of them. Head coach Pete Carroll has helped his team to avoid such oversights for the majority of his seven seasons at the helm, but we can’t help but remember USC’s loss to Stanford a year ago.

It could be easier to overlook the Cavaliers this week however, considering that USC and its next opponent (Ohio State) have combined to play in each of the last four national championship games. This September 13th matchup could very well already hold national title implications.

While potential stars are on USC’s roster, we don’t know who they all are yet as only four offensive starters return. Last year’s team sent 10 drafted players to the NFL with seven of those taken in the first two rounds. But if anyone has proven that he can reload, rather than rebuild, it’s Carroll, who has gone 70-8 with two national titles over the last six years.

We all knew what Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and even John David Booty were expected to do heading into each season, but less is known about projected starter Mark Sanchez. Sanchez completed 69 of 114 passes for 695 yards and seven touchdowns in six games filling in for the injured John David Booty last season. While the offense could struggle at times, the defense is expected to be one of the best in the nation, led by linebackers Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing. You can bet the USC Trojans at -18.5 at Bookmaker Sportsbook.

Virginia is coming off a strong season of its own. The Cavs tallied their first nine-win campaign since 2002. But with only 10 starters returning, Virginia is not expected to repeat its performance.

Meeting USC in the first game of the season doesn’t seem to be a strong scheduling option for any team, but head coach Al Groh welcomes the opportunity. If a team can’t get up for a home game with the most dominant team in college football, they have problems. Defensively, the Cavs were solid in 2007, allowing just 19.7 ppg (16th nationally), and a good performance by the defense in this one could keep them close this week. It seems unlikely that Virginia can pull off this upset, but it could give the Trojans more than they bargained for. You can bet the Virginia Cavaliers at +19 at The Pig Sportsbook.

Predicted Score:

USC 31
Virginia 12

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