UCLA at USC odds, picks and predictions

The UCLA Bruins (6-4, 3-4 Pac-12) and USC Trojans (7-4, 5-3) are lined up for a rivalry tussle Saturday afternoon. The opening kick at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the UCLA vs. USC odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

UCLA lost at home to Arizona State last Saturday 17-7 (as a -14 favorite). In their last 2 games, the Bruins are 0-2 straight up, 0-2 against the spread and the offense has produced a total of 571 total yards.

The Trojans lost at Oregon 36-27 last Saturday, covering as a 16.5-point underdog. The loss continued a slide for a USC team that opened the season with 6 straight wins but is just 1-4 since. Southern Cal is saddled with the Pac-12’s 10th-ranked defense, one allowing 34.6 points per game.

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UCLA at USC odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:50 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline: UCLA +185 (bet $100 to win $185) | USC -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
• Against the spread (ATS): UCLA +6 (-115) | USC -6 (-105)
• Over/Under (O/U): 63.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

UCLA at USC picks and predictions

Prediction

UCLA 30, USC 27

Moneyline

Southern Cal won last year's meeting 48-45, but the Bruins led 21-10 late in the 2nd quarter. A costly UCLA turnover fed into a short-field score in the 3rd quarter, and that led to USC's eventual win. The Bruins were a minus-3 in turnover margin in a game that saw both teams eclipse 500 yards of total offense.

Look for a close enough game this year, that UCLA (+185) has some value. Consider going in with a half-unit on the ML and a half-unit plus the points.

Against the spread

USC's efficient red-zone offense (touchdowns on 82.4% of trips) runs into the circuits best defense in that same category (42.3%).

The California-Los Angeles defense is also quite stingy in limiting explosive  plays and in getting foes behind the chains on 1st down.

This line was USC by 5.5 on release. The hop to 6 is significant. Consider a half-unit PLAY ON UCLA +6 (-115).

Over/Under

The Over has hit in 5 straight UCLA-USC games, but look for a reversal this year.

A bit of a breeze, the chance of rain and a solid UCLA defense yielding just 289.9 yards per game have this one ticketed for a good enough chance to land in the high-40s or mid-50s

BACK THE UNDER 63.5 (-110).

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