USC vs Kansas State Odds, Prediction | NCAAB Betting Guide

Below, we have USC vs Kansas State odds and a prediction, including a college basketball betting guide for Monday, Nov. 6.

The Hall of Fame Series game for opening night of college basketball holds the best matchup of the day. This game takes place on a neutral court (Vegas) between the Kansas State Wildcats and USC Trojans.

The Trojans will have a few key players missing, including Bronny James. However, the bulk of their rotation is experienced and healthy, and they're led by Boogie Ellis. Isaiah Collier was one of the top recruits in the country and will be the only underclassman amongst the bunch.

Meanwhile, the Kansas State Wildcats lost some key players, including Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson, who helped propel them to a deep NCAA tournament run in 2023. They added some key names, though, like Tylor Perry (North Texas) and Arthur Kaluma (Creighton).

USC’s rotation is a bit short-handed, and these teams are nearly identical. Since the line is a bit too one-sided towards the Trojans, KSU should keep this close down to the wire.

Ellis was a workhorse in 2022-2023. Now that USC lost Drew Peterson, Reese Dixon-Waters and Tre White, he will be the leader of the squad.

Andy Enfield added DJ Rodman, in addition to Arrinten Page, Collier and James in the offseason. Rodman is a grad-transfer who averaged over 30 minutes per game last season for Washington State. He also averaged 9.6 points and 5.8 boards, while shooting over 38% from deep.

Joshua Morgan will take on a much larger role this season. The 6-foot-11 redshirt senior averaged 24.4 minutes per game with over seven points and five boards last season.

Given that Vince Iwuchukwu could be absent in this one (game-time decision with a back injury), Harrison Hornery and Kijani Wright will back up Morgan. Neither averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season, so they're both pretty raw.

Finally, in preseason projections, USC comes into this game ranked 25th in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and 19th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. The Trojans ran at a tempo ranked 145th in the country, so they have a relatively balanced approach.

On the KSU side of the ball, Perry was one of the best mid-major basketball players in the country the last couple of seasons. At North Texas last year, he averaged 34.1 minutes, 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals, while shooting 41.3% from downtown.

The 5-foot-11 fifth-year talent is going to fill in nicely for Nowell.

In addition to Perry and Kaluma, Jerome Tang added Ques Glover (Samford), Will McNair Jr. (Mississippi State), RJ Jones (freshman) and Dai Dai Ames (freshman).

Getting David N'Guessan and Cam Carter back will make this team one of the most experienced teams in the Big 12. With that being the case, they will look much deeper than the Trojans in this one.

They will be missing Nae-Qwan Tomlin, though, who is suspended indefinitely following an arrest. Tomlin was Kansas State's third-leading scorer last season.

Regardless, one area KSU should thrive is forcing turnovers. Yes, the Wildcats don't have the same rotation as last season, but Perry is an excellent defender. Carter averaged around a steal per game in 2022-23, too. USC ranked 175th in the country in turnover rate, and the Wildcats turned opponents over 21% of the time.

In addition, both of these teams ranked in the top 50 in 3-point efficiency and below 180th in rebounding, per Shot Quality. KSU was a bit better in its Rim and 3 Rate on offense and is similar to USC on defense.

With the addition of Perry, the Wildcats should have what they need to get started on the right foot.

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The differences between these two are negligible. However, since this game will be played on a neutral floor, and KSU has a bit more experience in its rotation, it should cover the spread — and could even win.

If you haven't watched him in the past, you're going to love seeing Perry on television as often as possible.

Take the Wildcats in this one at +2.5, and play it to +1.5.

Pick: Kansas State +2.5 (Play to +1.5)