USC Trojans at Hawaii Rainbows Thursday, 9/2/10, 11:00 PM EST, TV: ESPN Opening Point Spread: USC -18 Current Betting Line: USC -21 Opening Total 52 Current Total 53 Current Moneyline: USC -1400, Hawaii +900
Starting QB Matt Barkley of the USC Trojans
USC begins the 2010-11 season under NCAA sanctions that will not allow the team to strive for playing a bowl game. In fact, the roster has just 74 scholarship players with numerous players leaving the program due to the penalties placed against the program. The Trojans have yet to lose in six tries against Hawaii, including scoring 60-plus points in each of the last three meetings. The team has won its last 12 openers and its past 16 non-conference games.
The Trojans will be playing their first of a school-record seven road outings during the 2010-11 season and have lost just once in 30 games against WAC teams. The team has posted a 20-10-3 record on Thursdays, but most of those have taken place on Thanksgiving (11-6-3). New head coach Lane Kiffin inherited a team with 12 returning starters from the recently departed Pete Carroll, who is now up in the Pacific Northwest, coaching the Seattle Seahawks. Interestingly enough, USC has compiled a 3-9 ATS mark as a road favorite over the last three years and the unit is just 4-5 as a favorite of 10.5 to 21 points against all competition.
Hawaii looks to improve upon its 15-34 all-time mark against current members of the Pac-10 Conference and also pick up its first ever win over tonight’s opponent. The Rainbows are certainly capable due to recent results, tallying eight wins over BCS conference teams since 2003, tied for fifth-most nationally. The team has won its last two home games versus the conference, picking up a 24-10 win over Washington State in 2008 and beating Washington 35-28 in 2007.
The Rainbows bring in an experience group into this contest, tied with Louisville and TCU for the most seniors in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 27. The passing attack ranked in the top three nationally last season, but the offensive line will be in a rebuilding mode with four new starters. It may be a tall task for the team to cover the spread this evening, posting an 0-3 ATS mark as an underdog of 10.5 to 21 points. Hawaii will also be an home underdog of this type for just the second time since 1992.
Bettors just don’t have enough information on the new-look Trojans to solidly back them in his contest, especially with a 3-9 ATS record in their last 12 games overall. Hawaii may be 3-9 ATS in its last 12 clashes with the Pac-10 Conference, but the Rainbows are enjoying a 9-4 ATS run in September.
