The USC Trojans are set to face the Arizona State Sun Devils. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our USC Arizona State prediction, odds, and pick.
USC started the season 13-0 but has gone 5-3 in its last eight games. The Trojans have lost twice to Stanford and were also hammered by Oregon at home. It’s true that the loss to Oregon came when fans were not allowed to attend USC games, a policy which has since been amended, but USC has still looked noticeably worse over the past three weeks, compared to the first two months of the season. USC was the next-to-last major college basketball team to lose its first game this season. Baylor was the last. USC played fantastic defense, especially on the perimeter, but in recent weeks, Stanford and other teams have been able to shoot the 3-pointer at a high level. That has been the main reason USC has struggled.
Arizona State busted out to a 12-point lead over USC in the early stages of their first meeting on Jan. 24 in Los Angeles, but USC used a 21-2 run to close the first half and turn the game around, eventually winning by 22. A key point, though, for college basketball odds analysts is that Arizona State was playing without Jay Heath (suspension) and Kimani Lawrence (health) in that game. The two players combine for an average of 20 points per game. The USC Arizona State odds, one might notice, are fairly close. This is because Arizona State has more bodies available for this game. Since ASU got out to such a strong start in the first meeting, it is reasonable to say that if the Sun Devils had their full roster available on Jan. 24, they might have been able to pull the upset against a USC team which is struggling.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the USC-Arizona State odds:
College Basketball odds: USC-Arizona State Odds
USC: -5 (-114)
Arizona State: +5 (-106)
Over: 134 (-110)
Under: 134 (-110)
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Why USC Could Cover the Spread
The Trojans, from Jan. 11 through 29, played eight games in a 19-day span. This is because they had to make up previously postponed COVID-19 games against Stanford and Arizona State. USC’s defense suffered in the midst of a very packed portion of its schedule. The best reason to pick USC here is that the Trojans have finally gotten several days of rest since Saturday. They should have much fresher legs for this game, which should lead to better and more improved defense, which is the cornerstone of this team. Remind yourself of that when making a USC Arizona State pick.
Why Arizona State Could Cover the Spread
When thinking about a USC Arizona State prediction, keep it simple: ASU lacked two quality rotation players in the previous USC game. Now the Sun Devils get Jay Heath and Kimani Lawrence back into the lineup. They should push USC to the limits in what figures to be a close game.
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Final USC-Arizona State Prediction & Pick
USC might win the game, but Arizona State — with two important players back in its lineup — does not figure to be a pushover here. The Trojans are good enough to win the game, but they have not been playing well enough to win by a large margin on the road in Tempe.
Final USC-Arizona State Pick: Arizona State +5.5
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