Time: 10 PM EST, Jan. 3, 2013
TV: ESPN U
Spread: STAN -2.5
Total: 125.5
M/L: STAN -145, USC +125
Betting Odds from Bookmaker
STANFORD
Stanford has won five of their last six games and sit at 9-4 on the season. They have lost both their match ups to ranked opponents this season, as they fell by nine to NC State on Dec. 18 and lost by eight to then-No. 13 Missouri on Nov. 22.
Tonight’s matchup against USC should test them. They enter the game as 2.5 point favorites according to college basketball oddsmakers, but they have played only two (true) road games this season, and their point differential in those games is -3.5, because they only beat Northwestern by two points and the aforementioned loss to NC State was the other road game.
The Cardinal are led by the duo of Dwight Powell and Chasson Randle.
Powell, a 6’10” junior forward, is averaging 14 points and seven rebounds per game, and appeared to be hitting his stride before turning in two poor performances against Lafayette and Northwestern. In those two games, he combined to shoot 8-of-24 from the floor, though he did have 11 rebounds in the victory over Lafayette. Prior to those two games, though, Powell had scored an average of 24 points per game in contests against NC State, UC-Davis and Denver.
Randle is a promising up-and-comer for the Cardinal. The 6’1″ sophomore guard is second on the team in scoring with 13.8 points per game and is dishing out 3.5 assists per game this season. He had a nice night last game against Lafayette, as he scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, and dished out four assists.
Randle is playing 30 minutes a game this season band shooting 43 percent from the floor, a percentage much improved from last year’s 38 percent shooting. He hasn’t been the same game changing defensive presence, but still averages over a steal per game, and he’s kept his turnovers down (2.2 per game).
USC
The Trojans have struggled at just 5-8, and they suffered a five game losing streak from Nov. 21 – Dec. 8, but they won their last outing against Dayton by two in overtime. In the victory, Eric Wise led the way with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting and was joined in double figures by Aaron Fuller and Dewayne Dedmon, who combined for 22 points.
Wise leads the team in scoring at 11.4 points per game, and the Trojans do have good depth, with a solid seven man rotation. They have five players averaging more than eight points per game, but other than Wise, no one makes any real huge contributions. Wise had a combined 28 points and 15 rebounds against UCLA and USC while playing for UC-Irvine two seasons ago, but is facing much tougher competition in the Pac-12 now. His uncle Willie was a standout i the ABA and his father starred at LBSU, so he has the pedigree.
The Trojans rank near the bottom in all major statistical categories, and even though this game is at home, NCAA basketball oddsmakers find the Trojans to be underdogs to their Pac-12 rival.
The Trojans had no major losses from last year’s squad, but just aren’t that good. Subtracting two players that barely combined for 10 points per game shouldn’t and didn’t have much of an impact on the team.
Dewayne Dedmon is healthy after a torn MCL injury last season, but is being used cautiously, playing 22.8 minutes per game. Dedmon is a true 7-footer, but hadn’t played a lot of basketball before coming to USC. It’s been said that he’s made a lot of progress, and head coach Kevin O’Neill said he “loved him” during his summer workouts, and that “he can be a hack of a scorer and rebounder for us (here), and guard multiple positions.”
Stanford Betting Trends:
OVER is 12-4-1 in Stanford’s last 17 Thursday games, OVER is 9-3 in their last 12 overall, and Stanford is 5-13 ATS in their last 18 Thursday games.
USC Betting Trends:
USC is 6-20 ATS in their last 26 at home, 5-16 ATS in their last 21 vs the Pac-12, and 18-37-3 ATS in their last 58 games overall.
