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BackUSC Trojans Favored Over Fresno State in Week 1 Non-Conference Matchup
USC Trojans Favored Over Fresno State in Week 1 Non-Conference Matchup
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CBS Sports51 minutes agoSports2 min readUnited States

USC Trojans Favored Over Fresno State in Week 1 Non-Conference Matchup

Quick Look

The 14th-ranked USC Trojans face the Fresno State Bulldogs in a Week 1 college football non-conference game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with USC favored by 21.5 points and the over/under set at 51.5 points; the SportsLine Projection Model predicts the over will hit after simulating the game 10,000 times.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

USC tied for fourth in the Big Ten with a 7-2 record in 2025, while Fresno State finished tied for fifth in the Mountain West with a 5-3 record and joined the Pac-12; both teams finished 9-4 overall in the previous season.

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The 14th-ranked USC Trojans look to make it two in a row to start the season when they battle the Fresno State Bulldogs in a Week 1 college football non-conference matchup on Friday night. Fresno State, now a member of the Pac-12, finished tied for fifth with Hawaii at 5-3 in the Mountain West and were 9-4 overall in 2025. USC, which tied for fourth in the Big Ten with Michigan at 7-2, were 9-4 overall a year ago. Visit our DraftKings promo code review and get $200 in bonus bets as a new user after $5+ in wagers here:

Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Trojans are 21.5-point favorites in the latest Fresno State vs. USC odds. The over/under for total points is 51.5. Before making any Fresno State vs. USC picks, check out the Fresno State vs. USC predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The model simulates every FBS game 10,000 times. It is on a 32-19 run on top-rated CFB money-line picks on betting sites since the 2024 season, and it has been upgraded for the 2026 season to even better factor in the transfer portal. Anybody following its college football betting picks could have seen strong returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Fresno State vs. USC. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the FBS college football odds and trends for USC vs. Fresno State:

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Top USC vs. Fresno State predictions

After simulated Fresno State vs. USC 10,000 times, SportsLine model is going Over (51.5 points) at betting apps. USC scored 42 points in its Week 0 win over San Jose State but also allowed 26 points. The Trojans are led by senior quarterback Jayden Maiava, who completed 25 of 29 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns. The ground attack was led by King Miller, who carried 15 times for 63 yards.

Fresno State put up 25.8 points a year ago, and this matchup history indicates we should see lots of points on the scoreboard come Friday. The last matchup had 62 combined points, and the last five meetings have averaged 67.8 total points. The model forecasts 54 total points as the Over hits 54% of the time, perfect for anyone targeting California prediction markets. See the model's spread and money-line picks at SportsLine.

How to make Fresno State vs. USC picks

In addition to going Over on the total, the model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time You can only get the pick at SportsLine.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • The over/under for total points (51.5) will go over, with the model forecasting 54 total points.

    Likely · Within hours

  • One side of the point spread will hit well over 50% of the time.

    Possible · Within hours

Open Questions

  • Will USC's offensive performance from Week 0 translate to success against Fresno State's defense?
  • How will the transfer portal upgrades affect the SportsLine model's accuracy for this game?
  • What impact will the 21.5-point spread have on betting behavior and game dynamics?

Related Topics

This article was originally published by CBS Sports.

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