College Football: Ohio State Favored Over USC in Week 9 Clash

Second ranked Ohio State hosts the USC Trojans in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The Buckeyes enter the game with a 6-1 record and a 4-0 mark in conference play. They won their last five games, including a 19-15 victory at Indiana on Oct. 17. Ohio State is 2-1 on the road this season.

USC is 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten. The Trojans lost 24-7 at Wisconsin in Week 8. They are 4-1 at home in 2026. USC leads the all time series 13-10-1, though Ohio State won their last meeting 24-7 in the 2017 Cotton Bowl.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The latest odds list Ohio State as 6.5 point favorites. The total points line is set at 51.5.

A SportsLine projection model simulated the game 10,000 times. The model favors the over, noting the line has hit in three of the last five Ohio State games and five of the last nine USC games. Ohio State averages 39.3 points per game, the highest in the conference. USC averages 32.8 points, ranking seventh in the Big Ten.

The model projects Ohio State quarterback Luke Fahey for 270 passing yards and two touchdowns. It expects USC quarterback Jayden Maiava to throw for more than 235 yards and one touchdown. The computer calls for 52 combined points in the contest.

The SportsLine model is 68-59 on top rated college football picks entering Week 9. That record returned nearly $400 for players betting $100 on betting sites.