The USC Trojans take on the Illinois Fighting Illini in Champaign, Illinois, on Saturday, Sept. 27. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on FOX.
USC is favored by -6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -250. The total is set at 59.5 points.
Here’s my USC vs. Illinois prediction and college football picks for Saturday, September 27.
USC vs Illinois Prediction
- USC vs. Illinois Pick: USC -6.5
My Illinois vs. USC best bet is on the Trojans to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
USC vs Illinois Odds
| USC Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 60.5 -110o / -110u | -240 |
| Illinois Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 60.5 -110o / -110u | +195 |
- USC vs Illinois Spread: USC -6.5, Illinois +6.5
- USC vs Illinois Over/Under: 60.5 Points
- USC vs Illinois Moneyline: USC -240, Illinois +195
USC vs Illinois College Football Betting Preview
USC Trojans Betting Preview: First Big Test
Entering the 2025 season, I felt that USC could be a dark horse to contend for a Big Ten title, and I feel stronger about it now after four games.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava showed flashes last year when he was thrown into the fire as a youngster, and he has made big strides after a full offseason as the guy in Los Angeles.
He looks the part of a top-five QB in the conference, with even bigger upside than that.
Transfer running back Waymond Jordan has been a nice addition to the ground game, and in general, the personnel seem to fit what head coach Lincoln Riley wants to do within his offense.
This week is the first major test for the Trojans, and a win will make them the first 3-0 team in the Big Ten.
Lincoln Riley was not pleased with conference officials for how they went about scheduling this one, citing the fact that USC had the latest possible kickoff time last week and now has to go on the road for the earliest possible kick.
Just a hunch, but after struggling in these travel spots a year ago, I think he's just trying to do anything he can to make sure Illinois has his players' full attention in a tricky road spot.
The defense also seems to have made progress in Year 2 under coordinator D'Anton Lynn, who has an NFL background and runs a complex scheme.
Illinois was vulnerable in pass protection last week, so look for Lynn to dial up some unique pressure looks to try to create negative plays and force some turnovers.
Getting off to a fast start will be paramount for the Trojans, in part to take the Illini crowd out of the game, but also from a confidence standpoint, given they were slow-moving early in road games last year against Minnesota, Michigan and Maryland before losing all three.
Riley knows his team needs this one if it wants a chance to make it to Indianapolis, and I expect a very focused group.
Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Preview: Can the Defense Rebound?
The Illini faithful were as optimistic as they had been in some time after their team got off to a 3-0 start and soared to No. 9 in the AP Poll.
Then, last week, they made the trip to Bloomington and got punched in the mouth by the Hoosiers. What stood out to me after watching that game was the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
Bret Bielema teams have always prided themselves on being tough and physical, and wearing opponents out over time in the interior.
Indiana dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and Illinois had no answers as a result.
The good news for the Illini? It's just one game, and they now have the opportunity to get the season back on track by taking down a ranked opponent at home.
The offensive line will need to protect much better for quarterback Luke Altmyer, which will allow the veteran time to make the right read and also make plays with his legs.
Defensively, this is another major challenge against a dynamic Trojan offense and one of the best play-callers in the game in Riley.
Whether or not Illinois can get pressure with its front four and avoid having to send extra rushers will go a long way in deciding this matchup.
Look for Bielema to rally the troops and for his team to come out inspired in this one. He's been at this long enough to know the importance of not letting one loss turn into two.
I just don't know if it will be enough, given the personnel concerns on both sides of the ball.
USC vs Illinois Pick, Betting Analysis
I expect the Illini to play much better than they did a week ago, but I still have major questions about the defense across the board.
Just like Indiana, USC has an explosive offense that's one of the best in the Big Ten, and there are plenty of matchup advantages on the perimeter for the Trojans.
Altmyer and the Illinois offense should make their share of plays down the field, but I've got faith in the USC defense to come up with some stops when they need to get off the field.
The Trojans will score in bunches, and the Illini won't be able to keep pace.
Lincoln Riley's team is extremely focused in a pivotal year for the program, and they'll be fully ready to go for this one despite the long travel and body clock changes.
Give me USC to win and cover on the road. Fight On.
Pick: USC -6.5
