Stanford vs USC Odds: Trojans’ Williams Keeps Bolstering Heisman Bid

USC quarterback Caleb Williams continued his assault on opposing defenses last weekend, passing for 319 yards and five touchdowns in the sixth-ranked Trojans’ rout of Nevada. USC is now 2-0, and Williams remains a sizable Heisman Trophy favorite.

Next up for the Trojans is a showdown with Pac 12 rival Stanford on Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC is a comfortable 29-point favorite, while the projected total is 69.5 (-115 Over, -105 Under), the largest of any game this weekend.

Read on as we break down the Stanford vs USC odds in our matchup preview.

All Williams, All the Time for USC

The USC Trojans have been as advertised thus far, stringing together back-to-back blowouts of San Jose State and Nevada to climb to No. 6 in the AP Top 25 NCAA football rankings. After failing to cover the spread in Week 0 on the NCAAF schedule, the Trojans did so last Saturday against Nevada, pummeling them 66-14 as a 38-point favorite. In doing so, the Trojans also nearly covered the Over (66.5) by themselves. USC’s 122 points are the most of any team to date, while it ranks ninth in yards per game (584.5).

The Trojans’ success is no secret. Caleb Williams is arguably the best player in the country. Through two games, Williams — the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and an overwhelming favorite to go No. 1 in next year’s NFL Draft — has completed 73.5% of his attempts for 597 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions. With +450 Heisman odds, he’s bidding to become the first player since Ohio State’s Archie Griffin in 1974 and 1975 to win the coveted trophy two straight years. At the moment, only two other players have better than 16/1 odds: Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis (+750) and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (+800).

On the heels of an upset loss to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl, USC entered as a +200 favorite in the Pac 12 Conference, not to mention an NCAA title contender. Those odds have remained stagnant, though through fault of the Trojans. Oregon and Washington remain the Trojans’ closest competitors at +320, while defending conference champion Utah is a bit further back at +600.

USC also owns the sixth-best national championship odds at +1400. There hasn’t been much movement on that front either, mostly due to the Trojans’ weak nonconference schedule. But the spotlight on USC will grow in the not-too-distant future with games against Colorado (Sept. 30), Notre Dame (Oct. 14) and Utah (Oct. 21).

Stanford’s Rebuild Gets Underway

The Stanford Cardinal did their part in their season opener, defeating Hawaii 37-24 on the road as a 7-point favorite. Stanford opened a 21-10 halftime lead and led by as many as 21. Pofele Ashlock’s 16-yard touchdown grab with 1:08 remaining helped the teams narrowly cash in the Over of 55.

Despite the Week 1 win, expectations remain low for Stanford. Really low. In fact, the Cardinal, who were projected for just 3.0 wins (+100 Over, -120 Under), have the lowest odds of any school to win the Pac 12 at +20000.

Coming off back-to-back three-win seasons, first-year head coach Troy Taylor has taken on a massive rebuilding project. The Cardinal returned only six starters, forcing Taylor to overhaul what was already broken. They allowed an average of 36.3 points to Pac 12 opponents last season, including 41 in a loss to USC. Williams threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns in that matchup. That’s important to keep in mind when assessing the Stanford vs USC odds.

Tight end Benjamin Yurosek was a bright spot against Hawaii, recording nine catches for 138 yards and one touchdown. It also helped that sophomore Ashton Daniels looked the part (25-36, 248 yards, two touchdowns) in his first start under center. But the Cardinal will obviously need much more from that duo over the coming weeks to have any shot at beating expectations this season.

Handicapping the Game

Stanford will have its hands full with Williams. Then again, who doesn’t? The dual-threat continues to be a perfect fit for Lincoln Riley’s wide-open offense, no matter the opponent. USC’s 668 yards against Nevada were its most under Riley, and its 66 points matched a high. Unfortunately for Stanford, the Trojans don’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

The disparity in talent between these teams is jarring, and it’ll be even more evident when the Cardinal try to defend Williams. This is a large college football line, but USC may just be good enough to cover the Stanford vs USC odds spread.

For college football betting news, odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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