This is a get-well spot for Caleb Williams and the Trojans. I expect a more focused effort on Saturday after their blowout loss last week at Notre Dame. I realize USC's defense ranks 96th in the country in scoring defense (30.0 points per game), but I don't think Utah's Cam Rising-less offense (108th in scoring) can take advantage of it. The Utes also don't play as well away from home. Two units on the Trojans.

Cameron Rising is likely not coming back this season so just redshirt him already and get him back healthy and full strength for next year. The two QBs they’ve used this season have been doing just enough to not mistakes and allow the team to run the ball and play amazing defense and 5-1 isn’t that bad for a tough Pac-12. USC QB Caleb Williams has a brand issue after losing last week and throwing three picks. Caesars dropped him from the favorite to win the Heisman to the seventh choice to win at 22-to-1 odds. This is a tough defense to face after a loss, but Williams shows up at home and makes more plays than the Utes offense. USC to cover.

Over 53. USC is 6-1 over with their last four going over the total. Utah is 5-1 to the under but they went over last week versus California. USC average 47.3 while allowing 30 points per game. Utah averages 21.7 while allowing just 12.2 points per game. Will Cameron Rising make his 2023 debut or will Bryson Barnes make his 2nd straight start. Barnes was 15 for 21, zero ints for 128 yards vs Cal. Last week USC was held to 20 pts by the best defense they’ve seen this season. I have Utah’s defense #5 and Notre Dame #8, the Utes a point better on defense. This week USC is at home and my model has them scoring 37 while allowing 21 to Utah.

This is a bad matchup for Utah having to play Caleb Williams and USC after their worst game of the season with double revenge factor in play after the Utes took down the Trojans twice last season. Utah doesn't play the same on the road as it does at home and USC, in particular, holds the upper hand when these two teams have met in the Coliseum.

Since leading Colorado 41-14 in the 3rd quarter of Week 4's matchup, the Trojans have been broken. Colorado scored the last 27 in that game, Arizona very well should've beaten USC but lost in triple overtime, and Notre Dame whacked them 48-20 last week. Let's see how Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams bounce back. The Utes are down to their third string QB and USC owes them some payback for two losses in 2022. I'll give the Trojans one last shot to turn it around. USC 35, Utah 24.

People are still falling for the USC trap. The Trojans are absolutely brutal on both lines of scrimmage. What do we know about the Utes? Their identity is to get opponents into rock fights and knock them out quickly and unequivocally. Notre Dame had six sacks and 11 tackles for loss against the Trojans last week, and the Utes are significantly better in both metrics. The Utes will make Trojan quarterback Caleb Williams run for his life and, as we saw last week, bait him into several mistakes.