USC Trojans at UCLA Bruins
Saturday, 12/4/10, 10:30 PM EDT
Opening Point Spread: USC -9
Current Betting Line: USC -6.5
Opening Total: 54
Current Total: 53
USC may be ineligible to play in the postseason this year and will finish off its season in a familiar spot in taking on the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl. The Trojans are coming off a 20-16 home loss to Notre Dame, which ended the program’s eight-game winning streak in the series. “We can quit now or go get another win,” quarterback Mitch Mustain commented. The backup signal caller may not get the chance of joining his teammates on the field today, as starter Matt Barkley has stated he will play against the Bruins. “There’s no doubt about that,” he stated. “It just stinks we lost. It’s not a good feeling.” USC has lost just once in the last 11 matchups between the cross-town rivals, including capturing the last three meetings. The team is 0-3 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points this year and the college football lines page has seen the line change throughout the week.
The Trojans were 16-2 under former head coach Pete Carroll during his time in Los Angeles and first-year leader Lane Kiffin will look to avoid an 0-2 start in the series of rivalries. “We let a lot of people down,” he stated after the loss to Notre Dame. “To go out and play like that is extremely disappointing.” USC will need a re-awakening from the running game to pull off the road win tonight, managing a combined 200 yards rushing over the last two games, after tallying a season-high 200 against Arizona.
UCLA will have 17 seniors suit up for their final home game on Saturday and each one is currently scheduled to graduate by the end of the Spring quarter. The Bruins will be meeting the Trojans for the 80th time in a series that dates back to 1929. UCLA trails in the series by a 28-44-7 count, but own an 8-6 mark in games played at the Rose Bowl since the start of the 1980s. Head coach Rick Neuheisel is 1-3 overall against USC and 0-2 as the head man in Westwood. The winner of this rivalry game is awarded the Victory Bell. UCLA is 1-6 ATS versus conference opponents this year and 9-16 ATS the last three years in taking on Pac-10 foes.
The Bruins sped out to a 17-0 lead last week against the Arizona State Sun Devils, only to suffer a blowout loss on the road heading into the regular-season finale. “Our passing game has been something we struggled with all year,” said quarterback Richard Brehaut, who completed 33 of 56 passes for 321 yards in the loss. “Fortunately, we were able to get that going. Unfortunately, we were able to get it going because we were down.” Defensively, the team has seen a major drop in performance, allowing over 580 yards to three of its last five opponents.
Bettors will be interested in the Trojans 16-7 ATS mark following a loss, while the Bruins are 16-7 ATS as a home underdog.
The final week of the regular-season is upon us and the college football handicappers at Maddux Sports is finishing it off in style. Join them today in the winner’s circle!
