A battle between college football powerhouses is on tap for Saturday when the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines (2-1) host the No. 11 USC Trojans (2-0) at Michigan Stadium. The game will be the Big Ten opener for both teams. USC had a bye last week, but defeated Utah State 48-0 in its last outing. The Trojans have allowed only 20 total points (all against LSU) under new defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn. Michigan is looking to build off its 28-18 win over Arkansas State in Week 3. Junior Alex Orji is expected to start at quarterback for the Wolverines.
Kickoff at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+. The Trojans are favored by 5 points in the latest USC vs. Michigan odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under is 44 points. Before making any Michigan vs. USC picks, you need to see the Week 4 college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's Jimmie Kaylor.
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.
Kaylor is an NFL, college football and DFS expert for SportsLine, who has covered the NFL and college football for close to a decade as a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. His background as a former college football All-American and NFL player gives him a unique perspective when building his fantasy lineups and locking in his betting picks. He has his finger on the pulse of the college football landscape and has been cashing in big for the last two years.
Kaylor destroyed the books in college football in 2023, netting a whopping 57.9 units while posting a 107-45-2 record. Anyone who followed his picks finished the season way up.
Now, Kaylor has dialed in on Michigan vs. USC on Saturday and just revealed his picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the college football odds and betting lines on the spread, money line and over/under for USC vs. Michigan:
- USC vs. Michigan spread: USC -5
- USC vs. Michigan over/under: 44 points
- USC vs. Michigan money line: USC -202, Michigan +165
- USC vs. Michigan streaming: Paramount+
- USC vs. Michigan picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why USC can cover
Under Lincoln Riley, the Trojans have consistently been among the best offensive teams in the country. That looks to again be the case in 2024, with USC averaging 37.5 points per game thus far. Junior quarterback Miller Moss hasn't missed a beat leading the offense, and wide receiver Zachariah Branch remains one of the most explosive players in college football.
Where the Trojans have really turned heads, though, is on the defensive side of the ball. Riley overhauled his defensive staff during the offseason, hiring D'Anton Lynn has defensive coordinator and Matt Entz as assistant head coach for defense. The results have been remarkable, with the Trojans holding LSU to 20 points in their season opener, then shutting out Utah State a week later. Michigan has had major issues on offense, and USC's defense has had two weeks to prepare for this matchup. See which team to pick here.
Why Michigan can cover
Jim Harbaugh has moved on to the NFL, but Michigan remains one of the top defensive teams in college football. The Wolverines gave up 31 points to No. 1 Texas, but a lot of that can be attributed to three untimely turnovers from the team's offense that put the defense in tough situations. Michigan allowed a total of 28 points in its other two games of the season.
The Wolverines are expected to go with Alex Orji at quarterback this week. Orji is unproven as a passer, but is an elite athlete, and his running ability will put a lot of pressure on USC's defense. The Wolverines also have a two-headed monster at running back in Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings, and an All-American candidate at tight end in Colston Loveland, though he is questionable for an undisclosed injury. See which team to pick here.
How to make Michigan vs. USC picks
Kaylor has analyzed USC vs. Michigan from every angle and he's leaning Over on the point total. He has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
So who wins Michigan vs. USC in Ann Arbor on Saturday, and what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the expert who profited $5,790 for $100 college football bettors in 2023, and find out.
