I don't care about the Trojans' travel across the country to play this game. Nor do I care about USC's key showdown next week against Oregon. The Trojans are light years better than Rutgers, which has lost to two teams that went a combined 2-22 last season. USC has a massive talent edge. If the Trojans treat this as a business trip, this won't be close.
Rutgers started last year off 3-0 and gave us all grand illusions of what could be in Greg Schiano's immediate future. They would lose seven of nine in Big Ten conference play. Schiano started the 2026 season with great hopes but then lost to UMass 37-21 as 29.5 favorites. They lost last week to Boston College 28-21, and now they get USC, who is 3-0 but only 1-2 against the spread. It's a long road trip for USC, but they need to show extreme strength in their Big Ten opener to gain more confidence. One goal for USC. It's playoffs or bust. USC to cover.
Maybe Greg Schiano forgot how to coach, but I think he has his guys ready for this CBS Saturday game as USC leaves the West Coast for the first time for an early kick Pacific time. Also a major lookahead spot for the Trojans hosting Oregon next Saturday. USC had its issues away in 2025, that's for sure. Our model has Trojans by 19 and yeah I'm thinking somewhere around a 20-point victory. Perhaps the hook on 24 does matter. This is one you get the W, fly back home and start worrying about the Ducks.
