The USC Trojans take on the Purdue Boilermakers in West Lafayette, IN. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
USC is favored by -21 points on the spread with a moneyline of -1650. The total is set at 59.5 points.
Here’s my USC vs. Purdue prediction and college football picks for Saturday, September 13.
USC vs Purdue Prediction
- USC vs. Purdue Pick: Purdue +21
My Purdue vs. USC best bet is on the Boilermakers spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
USC vs Purdue Odds
| USC Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-21 -112 | 59.5 -105o / -115u | -1650 |
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+21 -108 | 59.5 -105o / -115u | +950 |
- USC vs Purdue point spread: USC -21
- USC vs Purdue over/under: 59.5 points
- USC vs Purdue moneyline: USC -1650, Purdue +950
USC vs Purdue Preview
USC Trojans Betting Preview: Offense Looks Dangerous
The USC offense has held its own through two weeks of the new season.
The Trojans are averaging 66 points per game in two dominant wins and covers over Missouri State and Georgia Southern.
Competition caveats aside, the firepower on that side of the football seems here to stay.
Led by Heisman hopeful Jayden Maiava (707 yards, six touchdowns, zero interceptions and zero sacks through two weeks), the Trojans have the same look and feel of some of Lincoln Riley’s most explosive offenses.
Maiava isn’t alone either — Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane will both take their talents to the NFL one day and have a very real argument for the title of "best wide receiver duo" in college football.
The monstrous pairing has combined for 17 receptions, 372 yards and three touchdowns thus far — and keep in mind, blowout game scripts may have even watered down those numbers a bit from what they could be.
In the backfield, leading rusher Waymond Jordan has earned the bulk of the carries so far. He’s averaging 10 yards per carry through two games.
Four different Trojan rushers have already accounted for multiple touchdowns, including backup quarterback Husan Longstreet, who gives them a different dimension when needed.
But as good as the Trojans' offense has looked, the defense has left a bit to be desired.
In Week 2, the Trojans gave up 20 points to Georgia Southern (which only mustered 14 points the week before in a blowout loss to Fresno State).
Now, the game was such a blowout that it feels nit-picky to condemn the Trojans' defense for taking its foot off the gas pedal. But at the same time, Georgia Southern ran for 4.3 yards per carry and 142 yards total, with multiple rushes of 11 yards or more.
There are cracks in this team’s defense, just as there have been for the better part of Riley’s tenure.
Purdue Boilermakers Betting Preview: New Era
Enter a new-look Purdue program that's exiting the miserable Ryan Walters era and entering Barry Odom’s tenure.
Odom will have one unique advantage in this contest — familiarity with Maiava. Maiava was Odom’s starting quarterback in his first year at UNLV, and he led the Rebels to nine wins while helping build Odom’s resume in the early portion of his time at the program.
If there’s anyone who may have an idea of how to frustrate Maiava, it's Odom.
But the Boilermakers will need more than just familiarity to hang around as lopsided underdogs at home.
For starters, quarterback Ryan Browne will need to continue his hot start. Browne is completing 65% of his pass attempts through two weeks, mustering 481 total yards and four touchdowns to just one interception.
Browne is a true dual threat, and his legs have opened up a new element for the Purdue offense. He ranks second on the team in carries, yards and touchdowns on the ground.
Ahead of him is veteran running back Devin Mockobee, a player who's truly been through it all at Purdue. Playing for his third head coach, he has a chance to set the program’s all-time rushing record this season if he stays healthy.
Mockobee is a reliable bell cow and has been tasked with 46 carries for 185 yards and three touchdowns through two Purdue wins in 2025.
While Mockobee and Browne give Purdue a few stars with big play potential, the Boilermakers' defense has also impressed, giving up just 17 points in two wins over Ball State and Southern Illinois.
The under has hit in both Purdue games thus far, and that’s a trend worth paying attention to as Odom’s offense continues to find its footing.
USC vs Purdue Pick, Betting Analysis
This game is a first for both teams this season, as USC hits the road for the first time and Odom hosts his first marquee home game in West Lafayette.
Expect a noteworthy crowd, as the Purdue faithful have shown out against cupcake opponents and seem to be invested in Odom’s early tenure.
USC played three road games last season away from the West Coast, and it’s important to note that it failed to cover the spread in any of them losing outright at Maryland, Minnesota and Michigan.
Purdue has the playmakers on the ground to take advantage of the same vulnerabilities that USC gave up to Georgia Southern.
Add in the travel questions and Odom’s familiarity with Maiava, and we feel comfortable backing the Boilermakers to keep this game within three scores.
Pick: Purdue +21
