Both teams are replacing Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, and both are coming off poor seasons defensively. But the difference in this game, I believe, will be the Tigers' offensive line. LSU returns four of five starters on the front, which should be one of the best in the country. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier should benefit from that continuity. Give me the Tigers.

This won’t be the most popular pick. However, these two teams begin this season with new quarterbacks. LSU was the best offense in the country last season, averaging 45.5 points a game and the Trojans defense allowed 34.38 points per game. The public seems to be putting a lot of weight into what these teams looked like last season while each team lost some explosive offensive player makers. LSU’s defense should be even better than last year as Miller Moss has a difficult test to start the season.

There has been some upward movement in the "total" for this opener in Vegas, and for good reasons. Even with new QBs both ways, it's hard to overlook recent "over" trends for each. For USC, it's 21-6 across its last 27 games; for LSU, it's 19-2 across its last 21 games (what must Les Miles be thinking?). The respective new QBs, Miller Moss (Trojans) and Garrett Nussmeier (Tigers), both had test runs last bowl season and passed with flying colors as they go about replacing the last two Heisman winners (Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, respectively). With defensive issues yet to be answered by bath Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly, the stage is set for a deluge of points, Play USC-LSU "Over" (at Las Vegas)

This game is the Spiderman meme. Two identical teams pointing at each other. Both can score points, and both love to give them right back to the opponent. Maybe they both improve defensively this season, but they won't look a lot better this week.

This bet on LSU is all about the offensive line which returns four starters from last year and a starting tight end from the last 3 years. Garrett Nussmeier showed in the bowl game last year that he is ready to take over throwing for 395 yards and he's going to have a new hookup link in LSU tradition with CJ Daniels, a transfer from Liberty who had over a thousand yards receiving. Thirteen starters return overall. I think what I like most about the new defensive frontline is that they're all seniors and then the secondary has three of four starters returning. The defense will be better than last year. LSU covers.

Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are gone, but with Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly coaching, I still expect plenty of offensive fireworks in this season opener for both teams at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Miller Moss is likely stepping in at QB for USC and Garrett Nussmeier for LSU -- both have looked good when called upon as backups. Both teams here enter the season with massive question marks on the defensive side of the ball, which is why I believe this number should be closer to 70. This is a game I see ending with a final score in the 40-35 range.