Longhorns Are Double-Digit Dogs Against Trojans
College football’s Week 3 of the regular season includes a showdown in southern California when the No. 4 ranked USC Trojans host the Texas Longhorns. The current line has USC favored by 15.5 points with the over/under point total on 67.5.
Entering this game, Texas on the season is 1-1 straight up and against the spread, while USC is 2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS. This is the first official road game for Texas, while USC is 2-0 SU and 1-1 at home.
This is the first meeting between the two schools since the Rose Bowl in 2006. USC has won 11 straight games dating back to last season and is coming off an impressive showing last week in its 42-24 win at home over Pac-12 rival Stanford.
The offensive skill positions have come up big for USC with Ronald Jones II the No. 1 running back rushing for a total of 275 yards and 5 touchdowns over the first two games.
Texas gave up 263 yards on the ground to Maryland in its loss to open the season. The Longhorns returned for a 56-0 blowout win last week over San Jose State. Freshman signal caller Sam Ehlinger debuted after starter Shane Buechele was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Ehlinger made the best of his opportunity with 222 yards passing, one touchdown pass plus 47 yards rushing. The Longhorns hope to mix running with passing and piece together long time consuming drives to keep the potent USC offense on the sidelines.
Last week Chris Warren III rushed for 166 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Longhorns. Ehlinger is expected to start again this week and his running ability is superior to that of Buechele.
USC must continue to improve its offense under Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Sam Darnold. The USC signal caller has already thrown four interceptions in only 59 passes thrown. Last season in 366 passes, he was intercepted only 9 times.
However, Darnold will likely be handing off more often than dropping back, as the running attack for USC looks to take advantage of a weak front seven against the run for the Longhorns.
USC’s Jones has rushed for one touchdown or more in nine straight games.
The Longhorns have four non-offensive touchdowns after just two games, while not scoring any all of last season.
Texas is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games versus opponents from the Pac-12.
USC is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games played at home.
Prediction: The Trojans have one of the top QBs in the country but the defense will not stop the Longhorns enough to cover the points. Lean here toward Texas.
