The USC Trojans will take on the Kansas Jayhawks in a highly touted second-round matchup on Monday night. This game features two teams on different trajectories right now. The reeling Jayhawks will be forced to fight through their struggles against a red-hot Trojans squad. Both groups will have a tall task with the plethora of interior talent that each team possesses. In what's essentially being set as a pick'em, which team will get the edge and advance to the Sweet Sixteen? It’s time to continue the NCAA odds series and make a USC-Kansas prediction and pick.

Here is how the sportsbooks set the odds for this game.

NCAA Odds: USC-Kansas Odds

USC Trojans -1.5 (-108)

Kansas Jayhawks +1.5 (-112)

Over 134.5 (-110)

Under 134.5 (-110)

Why USC Could Cover the Spread

The USC Trojans have been one of the hottest teams in the land of late. Coming off of an impressive 72-56 victory against 11th-seeded Drake, the Trojans look to carry their momentum into this round of 32 game. The recipe for success is clear, let the Mobley brothers do their thing. The towering duo averages over fifteen rebounds per game. They can block shots with the best of them and create a tall task for any opponent. Evan Mobley (16.8 ppg) was named the Pac 12 Player of the Year. We'll be seeing him in the NBA next season, regardless of the outcome on Monday night.

The inside-out style of basketball has proved fruitful for USC all year. The Trojans put this style of play on full display in the first round, shooting 50% from the field and holding Drake to 29.4% in Friday's victory. High percentage looks on offense and a tormenting defense will beat just about anyone in the country. The defense has been smothering all year, holding opponents to a 45.4% effective field goal percentage, which is good for eleventh in the country. The difference-maker for the Trojans will be their outside shooting.

Why Kansas Could Cover the Spread

Kansas has been struggling of late and squeaked by Eastern Washington to advance. In their 93-84 victory over the Eagles, the Jayhawks were down by as many as 10 before the comeback. Props to them for pulling off a difficult victory, but eyebrows have to be steadily rising. The bright spot to take away from this game was the return of David McCormack. Leading scorer Ochai Agbaji (14.2 ppg) needed some help and definitely got it from McCormack in the win.

David McCormack came off of the bench to provide 22 points in 25 of play. He is critical to his team's success and the numbers show it. Although the Jayhawks shot only 34% from beyond the arc in 2021, they still managed to have the 47th best-adjusted offense in the country, thanks in large part to his presence down low. The two keys to victory for Kansas will be the energy on defense and the ability to win the battle on the blocks. David McCormack is needed now more than ever.

Final USC-Kansas Prediction & Pick

This game is sure to be a dog fight. May the biggest man win. In this matchup, the battle down low will almost certainly be won by the USC Trojans. The two-headed monster that they possess in the Mobley brothers will be too much for the Jayhawks to handle. USC has a slight advantage in outside shooting as well, which may be the X-factor. If the Jayhawks think they can come into this game with the same formula as the last, they will get blown out on Monday night. USC will improve from beyond the arc and cover this spread comfortably.

FINAL PICK: USC -1.5 (-115)