After a sluggish start to the season, first-year Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore has decided to make a quarterback change as the Wolverines prepare to face USC (2-0) Saturday on CBS and Paramount+. Michigan (2-1) will switch from Davis Warren to Alex Orji as these historic programs meet for the first time as Big Ten members. Orji has been used as a situational runner in some big spots for the Wolverines, but how he'll handle the entire offense is a big question mark for bettors in this one.
Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. ET at The Big House. The latest Michigan vs. USC odds via SportsLine consensus list the Trojans as 5-point favorites, while the over/under is 44. Before making any USC vs. Michigan picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
Saturday's game can be seen live on CBS and streamed live on Paramount+, which you can now get for 50% off your first year plus a 7-day free trial (valid through 9/22/24). Sign up here and get half-off.
The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a profit of over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It is also coming off a profitable 13-9 season on top-rated spread picks and is off to a 5-2 start on over/under picks this season. Anyone who has followed it has seen strong returns.
Now, the model has dialed in on Michigan vs. USC and just revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college football odds for the spread, money line and over/under:
- Michigan vs. USC spread: USC -5
- Michigan vs. USC over/under: 44 points
- Michigan vs. USC money line: USC -202, Michigan +164
- Michigan vs. USC picks: See picks here
- Michigan vs. USC streaming: Paramount+ (get 50% off first year now through 9/22/24)
Why Michigan can cover
There's been massive line movement in this matchup as the Wolverines were once favored by as many as 13 points. Michigan is now getting 5.5 points and the Wolverines rarely lose at home, so there could be some value in backing the team that has gotten off to a slower start this season.
The Wolverines must be better at quarterback, and they hope Orji can be more effective, but they do still feature some of the best players in the nation. Cornerback Will Johnson, defensive tackle Mason Graham and tight end Colston Loveland (questionable, arm) will likely all be among the first players off the board at their respective position in the 2025 NFL Draft. See picks at SportsLine.
Why USC can cover
The Trojans have covered with room to spare in both matchups thus far. Michigan, meanwhile, is 0-3 against the spread and the Wolverines weren't close to covering the past two weeks, beating Arkansas State (+21.5) by just 10 and losing to Texas (-6.5) by 19.
Quarterback Miller Moss has been effective, completing 72.7% of his passes and throwing two touchdowns and no interceptions. Running back Woody Marks, a Mississippi State transfer, leads the way on the ground with a 29-171-3 rushing line on the season. USC's biggest improvement, however, has come defensively after the Trojans were one of the worst defensive units in the nation last year. See picks at SportsLine.
How to make USC vs. Michigan picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 56 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Michigan vs. USC, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up well over $2,000 on top-rated spread picks since its inception, and find out, and don't forget to stream Michigan vs. USC on Paramount+.
